Question

What is the staging system for prostate cancer?

Answer 1

• Staging systems are complicated. The staging system for most cancers, including prostate cancer, uses three different aspects of tumor growth and spread. It's called the TNM system, for tumor, nodes, and metastasis: T, for tumor (which means a swelling, a growth or mass, and describes the cancer as found in its place of origin), describes the size of the main area of prostate cancer.
• N, for nodes, describes whether prostate cancer has spread to any lymph nodes, and how many and in what locations.
• M, for metastasis, means distant spread of prostate cancer, for example, to the bones or liver. Using the TNM system, each man's prostate cancer can be described in detail and compared to other men's prostate cancer. Doctors use this information for studies and to decide on treatments.