Survival factors depend on prostate cancer survival rate such as age, overall health, and wellbeing and how far the cancer has developed. Healthcare professionals use two types of system to signify the current stage of the prostate cancer and can be used to indicate treatment and calculate life expectancy.
Gleason score staging
Once you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer the Gleason score ultimately measures and assesses the aggressive nature of a tumour and its growth rate, adding together the two most common cell types within a tumour and scoring them from one to five. Staging and grading converts the size and scope of cancer, and the capacity to grow both within and beyond the prostate, with a ‘TNM’ score.
TNM, which stands for Tumour, Node, and Metastasis, is commonly used. The T is categorised into four categories regarding the size and extent the tumour has developed in the prostate gland;
| T1 | The tumour cannot be felt during a rectal examination or seen on imaging equipment. |
| T2 | The tumour can be felt and seen but is confined to the prostate gland. |
| T3 | The tumour has started to spread outside of the prostate gland to surrounding tissue. |
| T4 | The tumour has spread outside the prostate to surrounding tissue and organs such as the bladder or rectum. |
| N stage | Denotes whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, 0=No, 1=Yes. |
| M stage | Denotes Metastasis; whether the cancer has spread to other organs in the body such as the liver, bowel, or lungs. 0=No, 1=Yes. |
The numerical stages (0-4) of prostate cancer are a combination of all the TNM factors. Your healthcare consultant will diagnose what stage you’re currently indicating.
What is the typical life expectancy of prostate cancer patients?
DO REMEMBER, life expectancy depends on several individual factors.
Typical Stage 4 Survival Rate
Stage 4 prostate cancer is known as “advanced prostate cancer” and specifies the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as your lymph nodes or bones. The five-year survival rate for stage 4 prostate cancer patients is 30%. This means that 30% of men with stage four are still alive after five years. Current treatment for stage 4 prostate cancer includes chemo and radiation therapy, hormone therapy and surgery. Newer treatments include highly targeted treatment and immunotherapy.
Typical Stage 3 Survival Rate
Patients with stage 3 prostate cancer do have cancer that has spread outside the prostate gland but has not yet affected the lymph nodes or organs further away from the prostate. The five-year survival rate for men with stage 3 prostate cancer is 90%. This means 90% of men diagnosed with stage 3 are still alive five years. Typical treatment for stage three prostate cancer includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy, hormone therapy and surgery or often a combination of treatments. Note, life expectancy is not an exact science and very much depends on individual circumstances.
Typical Stage 2 Survival Rate
Men with stage 2 prostate cancer have cancer that is confined to the prostate gland itself and has not spread to the lymph nodes or other organs away from the prostate. The five-year survival rate for patients with stage 2 prostate cancer is 100%. This means that nearly all men diagnosed with this stage 2 are still alive five years.
Treatment may include a combination of active monitoring (aka active surveillance), radiotherapy or surgery.
Typical Stage 1 Survival Rate
Men with stage 1 prostate cancer should take comfort from the fact their cancer has been detected early and this is a positive fact for prognosis. The five-year survival rate for men with stage 1 prostate cancer is 100%. This means 100% of men diagnosed at this stage of the disease are alive after five years. Treatment for stage 1 prostate cancer may include active surveillance, radiotherapy and possible targeted surgery.
Maintaining physical and mental health are key to a positive clinical outcome. Stay active and eat a healthy balanced diet. It is important to stick to your treatment plan advised by your healthcare provider and see if there is a support group in your area; this can be invaluable in maintaining a positive attitude and signposting further help.
Hi there. Just to give hope I was diagnosed metastatic prostrate cancer stage 4.
Scans showed black areas where cancer had spread.
I was determined to beat this, so having had radio and chemotherapy treatment showed improvement.
Now I am at stage 1 living with Cancer . Recent scans show next to nothing.
Don’t give in or give up.
80 this year and fit for anything.
Outstanding post. I’m happy that you’re fighting and beating cancer. Im 56 and was just diagnosed with stage 1 prostate cancer. I was feeling dejected and unsure of my future. My physician was nonchalant when advising me of my diagnosis. He suggested active monitoring and possibly doing another biopsy in 9 -12 months. I’m trying to be strong for my wife and son but I’m worried due to their lack of alarm. I’m due to go back in September for bloodwork to see if my PSA has gone up. Please pray for me and I’ll pray for you.
Just diagnosed with Gleason scores 7 stage t3 inoperable prostate cancer I start my hormone therapy tomorrow then chemo for 10 weeks, I’ve been seeing doctors religiously for 15 years and they let me go from PSA number of 3 to 13 before they told me I didn’t see a urologist and then it still took 5 months to get in
Thank you for giving me hope. My son has just today been diagnosed with stage 4. It has hit me like a brick. I am his mother. He is very positive and seems to be ready for an all out fight. I am a retired oncology nurse, and have seen men beat this, but it’s a fight. He is a strong Christian , and am example of how God works through his and allows us to be examples to one another. Blessings to you, Victor.
I am 71 years old. 10 years ago I had stage 4 and had my prostate removed. Two years ago I had two months of radiation, I am now on hormones and start radiation again, the cancer is now in my limp. I’m hoping for five more years.