The Stages of Prostate Cancer:

Cancer can be an uncompromising battle. For those that have suffered or witnessed the progression of prostate cancer know that it's very challenging to overcome. Unfortunately, prostate cancer is the second highest to lung cancer, making it a leading cause for cancer-related deaths for men. This disease generally targets older men, ranking it fifth compared to other causes of death in men over 45. The exact cause of this cancer is not known, but age and genetics are a factor as to whether or not you're more likely to get it. Being over the age of 50 is another factor in getting prostate cancer, WebMD States that more than 65% of prostate cancer findings are in men 65 years of age and older.

The fortunate thing is that almost all prostate cancers are found during the early stages; because of this the chances for survival are extremely high. Also, taking proper care of yourself and eating the right foods are proven to help decrease your chances of getting it.

The severity of the cancer depends on the stage of where it's at. Prostate cancer spreads by going to the surrounding tissue first, the travels to the lymph nodes in the pelvis, and ends up in the bones, lungs and other organs. Each case is different in terms of how fast it spreads. In many cases it grows at a leisurely pace, taking years to grow enough to cause problems. But in some other cases it can grow rapidly making it difficult to cure. That is why it's important to know what signs to look for and to call your doctor if you detect anything unusual.

Stages of Prostate Cancer:

Stage 1: This is where the cancer is still in the prostate. It's more difficult to detect, due to the fact it cannot be felt during a digital rectal exam (DRE). In some cases the cancer is detected in advance by having a surgery done for another reason, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH-This is where the prostate is enlarged and causes problems by pressing against your urethra).

Stage 2: The cancer is growing, but has not traveled out of the prostate.

Stage 3: The cancer has spread outside of the prostate, but only a little. Just outside the prostate is tissues known as the seminal vesicles; this is where the prostate will attack.

Stage 4: At this stage the cancer has spread to the seminal vesicles. It's metastasized (growing). At this point the cancer is advancing and may have attacked neighboring muscles and organs. Which means it's gone further than the seminal vesicles, and may have spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. This is a very difficult stage to treat because of the advance the cancer has made in the body.

Recurrent: This is where the cancer has come back after treatment. It's most likely in or around the prostate, and in some cases other parts of the body, like the bones.

Grading Stages:

Based on a scale of 2-10; the Doctor will grade the stage of how fast it will grow and spread. It is called a Gleason score. If the score is low then that means the cancer is likely to move at a slower pace, as opposed to a high score moving at a fast one.

4 or lower: The cancer cells look identical to normal cells. The cancer is more likely to be less forceful.

5-7: This is known as an intermediate stage. The cancer cells do not look like normal cells, meaning that it has a greater chance of being aggressive and more severe.

8-10: This is the highest levels the cancer can progress at. At this level the cancer is expected to progress and spread at a quick rate.

Common Ways to Detect Prostate Cancer:

1. Digital Rectal Exam: This is done by a physician checking manually.

2. Prostate-Specific Antigen: This is done though a blood test.

3. Transrectal Ultrasound: This is an ultrasound that is done from the rectum.

4. MRI: This is a procedure that is done to check the prostate by using a rectal probe. There is another more advanced MRI that inspects the skeleton. Also, they might do a nuclear medicine bone scan to see if it has grown in the bones.

5. CT Scan: This is where they check the abdomen and pelvis. This is done to see if the cancer is in other organs.

7. Surgery: They will observe the lymph nodes in the pelvis to see if the cancer has spread.

If you are concerned about whether or not you have prostate cancer, the first step is reading the signs and symptoms your body shows. Prostate cancer doesn't typically show signs that it is present in the early stage. If you are unsure of what to identify as being abnormal, then here are some symptoms you should look for:

1. Having difficulty urinating: This is where you have the urge to urinate, but you can't. It's called hesitating.

2. Having a weaker urine stream: If you are urinating but it isn't flowing the way it normally does.

3. Not being able to urinate: Having the feeling of needing to urinate but not being able to. Call your doctor immediately.

4. Urinating more than usual: If you have to urinate more often than what you consider normal.

5. Not completely emptying your bladder: when you are done urinating, you still have the feeling that your bladder isn't fully empty.

6. Getting up in the middle of the night to urinate: If you are having to get up several times throughout the night to urinate. It's also called nocturia.

7. Having pain or burning: when you urinate you have a burning sensation or pain. It's also called dysuria. If you have painful urination with a fever higher than 100F, chills, or body aches contact your doctor immediately.

8. Having Blood or puss in your urine: Call your doctor immediately.

9. Having blood in your semen: Call your doctor immediately.

10. Severe pain in your lower back, abdomen, hip or pelvis.

If you experience any of these symptoms it is important to contact your doctor. It may not necessarily mean you have prostate cancer but you could have a urinary tract infection or a prostate infection. In any case, it shouldn't go untreated.