Stage 1 prostate cancer

Stage 1 includes all tumors of the prostate that extend up to TNM classification T2a. This is often a random finding, especially since the affected persons have no symptoms. In the early stage (T1a-c) the tumor is limited to the prostate and is not palpable and often not visible in imaging procedures.

T2a means that the prostate carcinoma is visible in imaging, taking up less than half of a lateral lobe. It is also called a “low risk tumor”. Life expectancy is very high: over 75% of patients who decide against curative therapy survive.

In most cases, the therapy is based on wait and see or active surveillance. Of course, surgical removal of the prostate is also possible to remove the tumor. Often patients in stage 1 decide in favour of this invasive method when direct relatives have died of prostate cancer. As a rule, however, this is not necessary at this early stage, especially since the operation can cause permanent functional loss.

Stage 2 prostate cancer

Again, the tumor is found exclusively in the prostate tissue and has not broken through the capsule, but is palpable and clearly visible in the imaging. According to the TNM classification, tumors T2b-c fall to stage 2. This means that more than half of a prostate lobe or both have fallen from the carcinoma.

Lymph node involvement or a metastasis in other organs is not present. In stage 2, removal of the prostate or other therapies such as radiation or chemotherapy may be considered. Life expectancy is quite good, but somewhat lower than in stage 1.

Stage 3 prostate cancer

The 3rd stage includes the classification T3. The tumor has broken through the capsule of the prostate and may spread to nearby tissues, such as the vas deferens. The tumor has a medium risk profile.

At this stage, patients often have symptoms. Typical symptoms are The treatment depends on the patient’s age and state of health. Curative (elimination of the cause of the disease) and palliative (alleviation of symptoms without elimination of the cause) therapies are possible.

Urinary retention
Blood in urine
Incontinence
Impotence
Urinary retention in the kidneys

Life expectancy in stage 3 depends largely on the general state of health of the person concerned and the planned therapy.Approximately half of those affected die under purely palliative treatment. If aggressive growth is observed over time, the survival time decreases, even though the majority of prostate carcinomas grow slowly.