Prostate cancer is classified into stages, which helps guide treatment plans because it describes the spread and extent of the cancer. The stages run from stage I, the least invasive, to stage IV, which is also called metastatic cancer. This means the cancer has metastasized, or spread, to other organs.
Significance
The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2009, there will be more than 192,000 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in the United States.
Features
Stage IV prostate cancer is diagnosed when the cancer has spread past the seminal vesicles to the bladder, rectum or other nearby organs, according to the National Cancer Institute. It might also be in the lymph nodes, bones or distant organs in the body.
Diagnosis
Prostate cancer is diagnosed through a multitude of tests, including a digital rectal exam, blood tests, a transrectal ultrasound and a transrectal biopsy, according to cancer.gov.
Treatment
For stage IV prostate cancer, the National Cancer Institute lists treatment as consisting of hormone therapy, radiation with or without hormone therapy, radiation therapy or a resection of the cancer to alleviate any pain or side effects caused by the cancer, careful monitoring and/or participation in a clinical trial.
Prognosis
For metastatic prostate cancer, the five0year survival rate is 31 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. This means that 31 percent of men with stage IV prostate cancer are alive five years after diagnosis.
