Skip the primary navigation if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Skip the main content if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Skip the location trail if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Location trail
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS > DISCUSSION TOPICS > TREATMENT OF LOCALLY ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCERCurrent issues in the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer
Last reviewed: February 2008
For general information about Cancerbackup's Discussion topics please see the introductory page.
This statement explores some of the issues involved in the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK. In 2003, almost 32,000 new cases were diagnosed, accounting for 23% of all cancers in men.(1)
At diagnosis prostate cancer may be localised (confined to the prostate gland), locally advanced (breaching the capsule of the prostate gland), with or without, involvement of local nodes and/or tissue close to the prostate, or metastatic.
Stage and grade of the tumour play a large part in treatment decision making. The main staging system used in the UK is the TNM system. The Gleason score is universally used as the best system to grade the histology of the tumour.
Experts define locally advanced disease slightly differently. Some restrict it to T3–T4, N0, M0 (tumour breaking through the prostatic capsule, with or without involvement of tissue close to the prostate). Others include N1 disease, with involvement of local nodes. (2),(3) This broader classification (T3–4, N0–1, M0 ) accounts for approximately one quarter of cases of prostate cancer at the time of diagnosis .(3)
Treatment choices need to be made on an individual basis. Various factors such as stage and grade of tumour, PSA level, the person’s age, their general health, and side effects of treatments are taken into account. The patient’s personal choices, values and quality of life issues should play an important part in treatment decisions.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) are producing guidelines on the management of prostate cancer. The guidelines are due to be published in January 2008.
You can read Cancerbackup’s additional statements about the management of early and advanced (metastatic) prostate cancer.
Content last reviewed: 01 February 2008
Page last modified: 06 March 2008
Page last modified: 06 March 2008