Stage I or II (early stage) prostate cancer refers to cancer that is restricted to the prostate. According to urologist Des Moines Dr. Fawad Zafar, this type of prostate cancer is easier to cure and treatment is administered with the goal being to cure the cancer.
Now that you’ve tests to confirm the presence of prostate cancer, you will need to learn more about the traits of your cancer. The following tests provide more information about the cancer to help your urologist Des Moines create the best treatment program for you.
PSA Level: This test measures the level of PSA, which is a biological marker, in your blood. PSA is a substance created by the prostate and is higher in men who have prostate cancer at the time of their diagnosis.
Gleason Score/Cancer Grade: This score provides information regarding how quickly the tumor is going to grow. It’s actually a description of the tumor based on how abnormal the tissue and cells appear under the microscope. Gleason Scores typically range from six to ten
Stage: The stage reveals the location and size of the tumor. These and other factors help your urologist Des Moines the stage of your prostate cancer and the risk group: low, medium/intermediate or high. It’s a belief that in more than half of men recently diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer, the cancer will not spread to other body parts.
Genomic Testing: There are several new tests available today that allow us to go beyond the standard risk assessment acquired with the PSA and Gleason Score testing. These tests are particularly important when choosing a treatment option if you have been diagnosed with low risk prostate cancer because you might be a good candidate for Active Surveillance.
If you are diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer, your urologist Des Moines will probably recommend an aggressive course of treatment so the disease does not spread throughout your body. These genomic tests look at the actual make up of the cancer cells to advise how the cancer will act, allowing your urologist to provide a more personalized risk assessment when recommending treatment options.
If you would like more information regarding prostate cancer or feel that you might be at risk don’t hesitate – call the office of urologist Des Moines Dr. Fawad Zafar today to schedule a consultation.