A tumor is a mass of cells that serves no purpose, according to Medline Plus. The body renews certain tissues by replacing old cells with new. Sometimes this process goes awry and more cells are produced than are needed to replace dead cells, or cells don't die when they should. There are three kinds of prostate tumors: benign, precancerous and malignant.
Prostate Function
The prostate is a golf ball-sized gland located in the pelvis of men. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the body. Along with the seminal vesicles, the prostate helps produce semen. Unlike most organs in the body, the prostate continues to grow slowly throughout a man's life. Medline Plus says this slow lifelong growth can lead to a variety of prostate-related problems including prostatitis; benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate; and prostate cancer.
Benign Tumors
Benign tumors are not cancerous. They do not spread or invade other tissues, and often they can be surgically removed and do not usually grow back. Despite its name, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is not a precancerous tumor. The American Cancer Society says BPH results from continued growth of the prostate around the urethra, and while it is a common prostate problem among men over 50 years old, it is not cancer, and is not a precursor of cancer.
Precancerous Prostate Tumors
Precancerous lesions are tumors that have abnormal cell structures as seen under a microscope. These tumors are at high risk of becoming cancerous. According to Up to Date, a health information website, precancerous lesions of the prostate occur in the cells that line the prostate ducts and are called prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, or PIN. These tumors are divided into low- and high-grade categories depending on how abnormal the cells appear under a microscope. These tumors cannot be detected by feel, or digital rectal exam. They can only be identified by biopsy, or microscopic examination of tissue that has been surgically removed. High-grade PIN are at high risk of becoming cancerous.
Stages of Malignant Prostate Tumors
Once prostate cancer is diagnosed, the American Cancer Society says your physician will classify or stage the tumor according to size and whether it has spread, and if it has, how far it has spread. Clinical stage is based on tests your doctor will order to estimate the extent of your tumor. Pathological stage is determined after surgery by a pathologist who examines the tissues under a microscope. There are different methods of staging prostate tumors. One of the most common systems is called the TNM system. The T stands for tumor size, N stands for lymph nodes and M stands for metastasis, or spread to other parts of the body. T1 and T2 prostate tumors are small and remain within the prostate gland. T3 prostate tumors have broken through the protective membrane covering the prostate and may invade nearby tissues. T4 prostate tumors have spread to nearby tissues, including the seminal vesicles, bladder, rectum and pelvic wall. Prostate tumors that have spread to lymph nodes are classified as T3N1 or higher. Prostate tumors that have spread to organs distant from the prostate are classified as T4N1M1.
Treatment of Prostate Tumors
There are four major types of treatment for prostate tumors, according to the National Cancer Institute. These include watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy and hormone therapy. Your doctor will recommend treatment options for prostate cancer based on your age, your overall health, test results, clinical stage and size of your tumor and whether it has spread beyond the prostate. Each of the current treatment options for prostate cancer carries risks of unwanted side effects and complications, which you will also take into consideration before choosing a treatment option.
Future
The National Cancer Institute says there are many new treatment options for prostate tumors aimed at improving outcomes and minimizing side effects. Some of them include cryosurgery, chemotherapy, biologic therapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound, proton beam radiation therapy and vaccine therapy.
