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Stages of Prostate Cancer

Staging is used to describe how far cancer has spread. One staging system often used with prostate cancer is the TNM system. “T” indicates the tumor size, “N” indicates the lymph node involvement, and “M” indicates the degree of metastasis, or where the cancer has spread within the body.

T, or Tumor staging, ranges from T1 to T4, with several sub-stages.

• T1 means the cancer cannot be seen or felt, but a biopsy has confirmed its presence.
• T1a means cancer is present in 5 percent or less of the prostate tissue that has been examined.
• T1b means cancer is present in more than 5 percent of the prostate tissue.
• T2 means the cancer is confined to the prostate.
• T2a means that cancer is on one side of the prostate.
• T2b means that cancer is on both sides of the prostate.
• T3 means the cancer has spread beyond the prostate to nearby tissues and organs.
• T3a means cancer is not found in the seminal vesicles.
• T3b means that cancer has spread to the seminal vesicles.
• T4 means that cancer has spread to other organs, such as the bladder or rectum.

N staging includes N0 and N1.

• N0 means that cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.
• N1 means that cancer has been found in the lymph nodes.

M staging ranges from M0 to M1, with several sub-stages.

• M0 means that cancer has not spread to distant tissues.
• M1 means that cancer has been found in distant tissues.
• M1a means that cancer has been found in lymph nodes beyond the pelvic area.
• M1b means that cancer has been found in the bone.
• M1c means that cancer has been found in other parts of the body, with or without bone metastisis.