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Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. When detected early, before it has spread to other organs, prostate cancer may be curable. A man’s risk for prostate cancer increases with age, and most cases develop in men over age 65 but many older men with prostate cancer die of another cause like heart disease before the cancer has grown enough to cause problems. There is controversy about the value of using digital rectal exams and prostate-specific antigens (PSA) blood test to screen men for prostate cancer. Detecting early prostate cancer may not improve quality of life or prolong life, especially in men who are older or have other serious problems. Therefore many experts are uncertain whether routine screening is appropriate for all men. Since it’s really that much helpful to men, go and talk to your doctor to learn about your risk in getting prostate cancer and whether if screening test are still appropriate for you.

The staging is referred to the process of determining how far the cancer has spread within the body. For prostate cancer, there are four stages.

Stage I
At this stage, the cancer is hard to detect. It can be discovered through needle biopsy or even accidentally when the patient is examined for other illness. The tumor is still small and within the prostate.

Stage II
Here, the tumor is still within the prostate but in an advanced level than in Stage I. The tumor can be detected using imaging tests.

Stage III
The cancer has already spread beyond the prostate gland and can be found in nearby tissues.

Stage IV
The cancer is now on the other organs near the prostate gland such as bladder, liver, or rectum.