Stage 3 prostate cancer has not spread to organs far beyond the prostate or the nearby lymph nodes. The outlook for stage 3 prostate cancer is generally positive, provided a person undergoes treatment.
Treatment includes a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal treatment, and radiation therapy.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of stage 3 prostate cancer.
After detailing its definition, the article discusses the potential outlook of the condition, along with its symptoms and treatment options. The article ends by listing some options for support.
Doctors define prostate cancer stages in terms of the following:
- Tumor characteristics (T): This describes the tumor’s size and spread within the prostate.
- Tumor spread: The extent of any cancer spread to the nearby lymph nodes (N) or to distant organs (M).
- Grade Group: The tumor Grade Group is a measure of how likely prostate cancer may grow or spread. The lowest score is 1 and the highest is 5. This is based on the Gleason score.
- Blood prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels: PSAs are proteins that healthy and cancerous prostate cells can produce. PSA levels sometimes rise in people with prostate cancer.
The
Stage 3A prostate cancer
A person has stage 3A cancer if they meet the following conditions:
| Stage grouping | What it means | |
|---|---|---|
| Tumor characteristics | T1 or T2 | Doctors may feel the tumor with a rectal exam or see it with ultrasounds. |
| Tumor spread | N0, M0 | The cancer has not spread beyond the prostate. |
| Grade Group | A Gleason score of 8 or less | A person has a Grade Group score of 1–4. |
| PSA levels | PSA at least 20 | A person’s PSA levels measure at least 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). |
Stage 3B prostate cancer
A person has stage 3B cancer if they meet the following conditions:
| Stage grouping | What it means | |
|---|---|---|
| Tumor characteristics | T3 or T4 | The cancer has grown outside of the prostate. It may have spread to the seminal vesicles or urethra. |
| Tumor spread | N0, M0 | The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs. |
| Grade Group | A Gleason score of 8 or less | A person has a Grade Group score of 1–4. |
| PSA levels | Any PSA | A person’s PSA levels can be of any value. |
Stage 3C prostate cancer
A person has stage 3C cancer if they meet the following conditions:
| Stage grouping | What it means | |
|---|---|---|
| Tumor characteristics | Any T | The cancer may be growing outside the prostate to nearby tissues or organs. |
| Tumor spread | N0, M0 | The cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs. |
| Grade Group | A Gleason score of 8 or 10 | A person has a Grade Group score of 5. |
| PSA levels | Any PSA | A person’s PSA levels can be of any value. |
To determine the survival rate for prostate cancer, healthcare professionals look at whether or not the cancer has spread to the nearby lymph nodes or to distant organs. Experts refer to cancer that has not spread in this way as localized.
Stage 3 prostate cancer is a localized prostate cancer. The National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) states that localized prostate cancers have a 5-year relative survival rate of
This means a person with localized prostate cancer has just as much chance of living for another 5 years compared to someone without the condition.
Is stage 3 prostate cancer curable?
Healthcare professionals may
A person may also require radiation, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy.
Is it possible to live without undergoing treatment for stage 3 prostate cancer?
Some people may survive for some time without treatment for stage 3 prostate cancer. However, untreated cancer will eventually grow and spread, developing into a fatal condition.
According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), there are many symptoms of prostate cancer.
It is important to note that prostate cancer can remain asymptomatic during its earlier stages. Symptoms occur when prostate tumors put pressure on, or grow into, nearby organs.
Symptoms can include:
- a frequent need to urinate, possibly at night
- an urgent need to urinate
- difficulties with starting to urinate
- straining during urination or taking a long time to urinate
- a weak flow
- the feeling that the bladder is not empty, even after urination
- blood in the semen or urine
The
- a rectal exam or ultrasound scan, which helps determine the size and exact location of any prostate cancer tumors
- a prostate biopsy, which helps determine whether someone has prostate cancer, as well as the tumor’s Grade Group
- a blood test, which detects blood PSA levels
Doctors might need to use other imaging tests, to monitor how far the cancer may have spread. These include MRI scans, PET scans, and bone scans.
Doctors have several possible means of treating stage 3 prostate cancer. As the
- watchful waiting, which means monitoring the cancer’s development
- hormone therapy
- radical prostatectomy
- radiation therapy
An individual may need to receive a combination of treatment options.
Receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis can be difficult. During this time, and going forward, support could be extremely helpful. People with stage 3 prostate cancer can receive support from friends, family, and loved ones.
Additionally, the
- a 24-hour helpline
- free accommodation during treatment
- free transport to treatment centers
People may also find support at the following organizations:
Stage 3 prostate cancer is a localized form of prostate cancer. It has not yet spread to organs far beyond the prostate or to nearby lymph nodes, though it may have spread to nearby organs.
Doctors can diagnose stage 3 prostate cancer with blood tests, biopsies, and imaging tests. Rectal exams may also help determine the size of the cancer.
Surgeons can cure stage 3 prostate cancer by surgically removing the entire prostate. The outlook for stage 3 prostate cancer is positive.