How Prostate Cancer Is Staged

If cancer is found in the prostate, the doctor needs to know the stage, or extent, of the disease. Staging is a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, what parts of the body are affected. The doctor may use various blood and imaging tests to learn the stage of the disease. Treatment decisions depend on these findings.

Prostate cancer staging is a complex process. The doctor may describe the stage using the Roman numerals I-IV or the capital letters A-D. These are the main features of each stage:

Stage I or Stage A

The cancer cannot be felt during a rectal exam. It may be found by accident when surgery is done for another reason, usually for BPH. There is no evidence that the cancer has spread outside the prostate.

Stage II or Stage B

The tumor involves more tissue within the prostate, it can be felt during a rectal exam, or it is found with a biopsy that is done because of a high PSA level. There is no evidence that the cancer has spread outside the prostate.

Stage III or Stage C

The cancer has spread outside the prostate to nearby tissues.

Stage IV or Stage D

The cancer has spread to lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.

Last Updated: 2/26/2003
The Johns Hopkins University 1996-2003.  All rights reserved.  This information is not intended to provide advice on personal medical matters, nor is it intended to be a substitute for consultation.