Cancer and Healthy

Prostate cancer has 4 separate stages, depending on its size, where it currently is and where it is spreading to in the body. One system for identifying stages is known as the Jewett-Whitemore system.

In the Jewett-Whitmore system, prostate cancer is classified first as stage A, B, C, or D. Stages A and B cancers are considered curable. Stages C and D are treatable, but their prognoses are discouaging. A number is then assigned to describe specific conditions within each stage. For example, a tumor classified as stage B1 is a single cancerous nodule confined to one lobe of the prostate.

Stage A is the earliest stage and in this stage the cancer is confined to the prostate. There are also no symptoms present. This stage is divided into A1 and A2.

In A1, you will see slightly abnormal cancer cells. IN A2, you will see abnormal cancer cells in several locations within the prostate. This marks the start of the cancer spreading.

The next stage, stage B is divided into three sections. In this stage the cancer is still isolated in the prostate but is detectable via a rectal exam.

In B0, the first section, the cancer is confined to the prostate. In B1, there is a single cancerous nodule (a knot-like lump) that is detected in one lobe of the prostate. In B2, the nodule is detected in both lobes of the prostate.

This is obviously a further advanced sage, but it is still treatable. In this article I have shown you some of the early stages of prostate cancer.