T1c Prostate Cancer Is More Common, Yet Treatment And Survival Options Have Increased

The T1c prostate cancer stage is generally diagnosed when a patient has a positive prostate specific antigen (PSA) test but has no other clinical sign that they have the disease.

All cancer types are described in stages by doctors to explain the extent of the cancer's progression.

The various stages for prostate cancer include the N stage (refers to the lymph nodes near the prostate), the M Stage (the degree of metastasis, where the cancer has traveled from the immediate are of the prostate to other body organs), and the T stage (the primary tumor within the prostate) which is discussed here.

T1c prostate cancer has become a common stage as a result of an increase in PSA tests.

The importance of clinical staging to evaluating and managing prostate cancer in a patient cannot be underestimated. T1c prostate cancer is the first stage with T2, T3 and T4 following.

The T1 stage is then divided into three levels: T1a, T1b and T1c.

Ways to Treat T1C Prostate Cancer

Studies are still inconclusive on who will benefit more from surgery after being diagnosed with T1c prostate cancer.

It is more common for younger patients to receive surgery than older patients. The goal is to remove all of the cancer during surgery. Those categorized in the low-risk group of T1c prostate cancer has a more than an 85% survival rate. Those who received the traditional radiation treatment had a lower survival rate.

Reasons to Consider Treatment for T1c Prostate Cancer

Healthy men under the age of 60 may consider a curative treatment for T1c prostate cancer. Treatment for T1c is most significant if the Gleason score is 7 or higher. Also, a PSA density that is greater than 0.1-0.15 is considered significant enough for treatment.

A free PSA that is less than 15% is also a reason to consider treatment for prostate cancer.

Studies suggest that stage T1c prostate cancer is not significant enough for treatment if the Gleason score is 6 or lower and the PSA density is less than 0.1-0.15. Also, a free PSA that is greater than 15% is not considered as significant as one that is less.

The good thing about the men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer today, regardless of the stage, is that their life expectancy has increased and more treatment options are available.

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