Prostate Cancer Treatment Stages
Success rate for treating prostate cancer will depend on the stage of the cancer and how far the cancer has spread. There is a labelling system of T-1 through T-4 which indicates how far the cancer has spread from it's original site and the size of the cancer.
Ablatherm® HIFU is an appropriate treatment option for essentially any male who has prostate cancer which can be cured by any other means. The stages of cancer of the prostate are:
T-1 Prostate cancer
This is a cancer which has no signs or symptoms and is totally unsuspected.
The prostate feels normal to the physician on rectal exam. The cancer is detected either by an elevated Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and subsequent biopsies or by examination of tissue removed during treatment of an enlarged prostate. This tumor can be cured by surgery, radiation, and Ablatherm® HIFU.
T-3 Prostate cancer
This is a tumor that has spread outside the prostate capsule and may have reached the seminal vesicles. This tumor is not curable by surgery, radiation, or HIFU.
T-2 Prostate cancer
This is a tumor which is suspected on rectal exam.
One or both lobes of the prostate have areas of firmness and biopsies reveal the cancer. The PSA is also usually elevated.
This tumor can be cured by surgery, radiation, and Ablatherm® HIFU.
T-4 Prostate cancer
This tumor may have spread to the rectum or bladder or to distant organs or bone.
This tumor is not curable by surgery, radiation, or HIFU.
Cure Rate for Prostate Cancer
Is My Cancer Curable by Treatment with Ablatherm® HIFU?
Prostate cancer is a slowly growing disease, and early detection is key. Statistics show that the survival rate for men diagnosed with prostate cancer is: 89% will survive at least 5 years and 63% will survive at least 10.
Patients with both T-1 and T-2 prostate cancer will have an imaging scan, such as an MRI or CT, to try to detect cancerous extension outside the prostate or to other organs (lymph nodes, liver, etc.). A Bone Scan is used to rule out spread to bone. These tests will show no spread of tumor outside the prostate in T-1 or T-2 cancer.
Patients with T-1 and T-2 prostate cancer who have had external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and recurrent cancer, but no spread outside the prostate, can be treated for cure by Ablatherm® HIFU. The sooner a patient is treated after the diagnosis of failed EBRT the better the chance he has for cure by Ablatherm® HIFU.
More about HIFU
Detection of
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men in the United States after skin cancer. There are generally no signs or symptoms in the early stages of prostate cancer.
The cancer occurs when cells divide at an uncontrolled, abnormal rate, creating a mass of tissue known as a tumor.
If a tumor is detected, tests must be done to determine if the tumor is benign or malignant.
Since age is a major factor, older men should be screened for early detection with a PSA test and a digital rectal exam.
A biopsy will be performed if prostate cancer is suspected.
Diagnosis of
Prostate Cancer
The biopsy will help doctors determine if the tumor is cancerious and if the cancer has spread.
If cancer is detected, your doctor will use your PSA levels and biopsy results to calculate your Gleason Score.
What is a Gleason Stage and Gleason Score?Prostate cancer is classified by the pathologist looking at the tissue under a microscope. This classification is according to what's known as a Gleason stage which ranges from 1 to 5 with 5 being the most aggressive and 1 being the least aggressive. When prostate tissue is examined, the most common appearing section of tumor is given a number, such as Gleason 2, and the next most common appearing tumor also given a number, such as 3. In the above case, with the most common tumor cells being 2 and the second most frequent tumor cells being 3, the Gleason score would be a 2+3 = 5. Although the urologist who will be treating you will explain the Score in greater detail, it is a good rule of thumb that a Gleason score of 2 through 6 is associated with a very high percentage of successful treatment. A score of 7 has a lesser chance of successful treatment and a score of 8 to 10 carries a poor chance of success regardless of what type of treatment is performed. |
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