Previous Section
Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer
Prognosis for Prostate Cancer
The prognosis for a man with prostate cancer is determined by the stage at diagnosis, the Gleason grade and the PSA levels both before and following treatment. Five-year survival rates vary depending on these factors, reaching 80% or better when the cancer is confined to the prostate at time of diagnosis versus 25% if metastases (e.g., to the bone) are present.
When the cancer is confined to the prostate gland (Stage I-II), median survival in excess of 5 years can be anticipated. Patients with locally advanced cancer (Stage III) are not usually curable, and a substantial fraction will eventually die of their tumor, though median survival may be as long as 5 years. If prostate cancer has spread to distant organs (Stage IV), current therapy will not be able to provide a cure. Median survival is usually 1 to 3 years. Even in this group of patients, however, indolent cancers may allow for survival for many years.
