Knowing All About Stage 3 Prostate Cancer

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Evaluating Prostate Cancer with the Gleason Score
A Gleason score determines on a scale of 1-10 how aggressive the cells in a tumor are. The score indicates the qualities of biopsied cancer cells. If the cells resemble normal cells, they score low. If they look extremely cancerous or deformed, they score high. Scores of four and below are non-aggressive tumors, while a score of eight or above indicates a highly aggressive form of cancer.
Prostate Cancer Stages
There are four prostate cancer stages. In addition, some doctors differentiate three sub-stages of stage 3 prostate cancer. Prostate cancer stages indicate the size of the tumor and the possible extent of cancer spread.
Stage one – The cancer is still microscopic and only within the prostate. It cannot be found by digital exam or by any form of imaging.
Stage two – Any palpable or detectable tumor still contained completely within the prostate
Stage 3a – Any tumor that has extended outward from the prostate on one side
Stage 3b – Any tumor that has extended outward from the prostate on both sides
Stage 3c – ...
... A tumor that has invaded one or both of the seminal vesicles
Stage four – Cancer that originated in the prostate but has metastasized to other tissues or organs in the body, usually the lymph nodes, bones, liver, or lungs.
Prognosis Facts
Not all stage 3 prostate cancer cases are the same. There are many factors involved in any prognosis. One of the greatest factors is the Gleason score. This score indicates how quickly a cancer might grow, based on the structure of its cells. Nearly normal looking cells don’t grow into large tumors nearly as fast, nor do they metastasize as quickly as extremely deformed cancer cells. The overall health and vigor of the patient is also a factor when determining treatment. Only when doctors and patients consider objectively not only the cancer, but also overall health can they devise an appropriate treatment.
Prostate cancer, even stage 3 prostate cancer, usually grows very slowly. In many cases, the diagnosis of prostate cancer late in life is of little consequence, as it would not become a problem in the patient’s lifetime. However in stage three, patients younger than 70 might consider a more aggressive approach while, those over 70 might weigh invasive treatment as worse than the disease over the course of their lifetime.
Choosing Treatments
Some prostate cancer patients incorporate several different aggressive treatments. They might use surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. Other patients benefit greatly from hormonal therapy, which slows the growth of the cancer without being invasive or causing a lot of side effect.

Options:
External Beam Radiation Therapy – Delivers radiation to the prostate and surrounding pelvic tissues through an intense x-ray beam.
Radioactive Implants – The insertion of radioactive beads into the prostate for a very localized treatment.
Radical Prostatectomy – The surgical excision of the prostate is only effective if the cancer has not spread to lymph nodes.
Chemotherapy – The use of chemicals to kill cancer cells, usually through injection.
Hormone Therapy – Hormone therapy can shrink prostate cancers and stop their growth.
Clinical Trials for Cutting Edge Cures – Experimental studies are frequently held to test new cancer fighting drugs.
Active Surveillance – Waiting and watching are a major part of cancer treatment. Sometimes it is prudent to simply watch a slow growing tumor rather than remove it.
Recovery and the Path to Wellness
Even years after remission patients should have regular examinations to assure there has been no recurrence or if there was no surgery that the tumor is not growing.
It is important to maintain healthy habits during treatment and recovery. While nutrition, vitamins and exercise alone will not cure cancer, working to maintain a healthy immune system and a strong overall constitution is important, both during treatment and in recovery. This is why many patients choose to forego some of the more invasive treatments. Keeping the body strong and incorporating hormonal therapy is often enough to preserve the overall health and quality of life for a patient far into the future.
It is especially important during chemotherapy or radiation therapy to maintain adequate nutrition and proper rest coupled with light to moderate activity level. Stress should be kept to the minimum. A good attitude is sometimes the best weapon of all against Cancer.

The Prostate Cancer Research Institute is a charitable institution that is intended to improve the quality of men’s lives by supporting the research and disseminating information prostate cancer recurrence. It also helps to create awareness and empowers patients, families and the medical community.