Prostate Cancer Grade Vs. Stage

Prostate cancer develops in the prostate, a walnut-sized gland in a man's men's reproductive system responsible for producing seminal fluid. According to the National Cancer Institute, such cancer is most prevalent in older males.

Grade Significance

• The grade assigned to cancerous cells indicates how aggressive they are. The measurement reflects how much the cancerous tissue differs from healthy tissue and how likely it is the cancer will spread rapidly.

Stage Significance

• The stage associated with cancerous cells reflects how far they've spread. This measurement is one of several factors that determines how doctors should treat the cancer.

Grade Features

• There are nine progressive grades assigned to cancerous cells based on how they appear when magnified under a microscope. Two, the lowest grade, indicates cancer that isn't aggressive. Ten, the highest grade, indicates cancer that's very aggressive.

Stage Features

• There are four cancer stages. Stage one cancer remains confined to the prostate; stage two cancer is more serious but remains within the prostate; stage three cancer has spread to adjacent tissue; and stage four cancer has spread to other areas of the body or the lymph nodes.

Considerations

• Patients are more likely to survive prostate cancer with a lower stage upon detection. A patient's age and overall health will also affect his prognosis.