Hi, I'm Dr. Scholz. Let's talk about prostate cancer.
Today we're going to talk about the five stages of prostate cancer. The PCRI has developed
a system for patients. Prostate cancer is very complex. Who has time to study the full
range of all the information associated with prostate cancer? Even the professionals have
trouble keeping up. Patients need personalized information directed to their particular type
of disease. This is what the PCRI's staging system provides. There are a lot of different
prostate cancer staging systems; all of these have been designed for physicians to help
them decide on the correct treatment. The PCRI's staging system is designed for patients—simplified
with a six-question quiz. This is to enable patients to approach their physicians with
accurate information about their disease, to raise the level of conversation with their
physicians to a level that directs treatment to the specific type of therapy that patients need.
So, how exactly can you find your stage? The PCRI provides a simple, six-question quiz.
You, with your medical records, can figure out your stage by going online to PCRI.org
and filling in the answers to those six questions. What is your Gleason score? What is your PSA?
What is your clinical stage? And what do the scans show? So if you get a copy of your medical
records and go online you can immediately figure out which stage of prostate cancer
you have. Many of you patients have been confronted with complex nomograms and staging systems
and tables that render percentages of this or that outcome. The PCRI quiz simply allocates
you to one of five categories and once you've determined that there are subtypes within
each category. Each of these subtypes is attached to a narrow range of treatment options. This
is not to imply that everyone would get the same treatment. Men with prostate cancer have
dozens of treatment options, but they don't all apply equally to every stage. But with
a specific stage, experts agree that certain treatments are superior to others and if you
know those expert-recommended treatments that's a starting place for the conversation with
your physician. There may be modifying factors such as your age, your sexual functionality,
your personal preferences about treatment, but at least you have a starting place.
The five stages of prostate cancer are Sky, Teal, Azure, Indigo, and Royal. The first
three stages, that is the men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer—Sky, Teal, and Azure—are
broken down into those three stages because of the radically different way each one can
behave. Azure is like a real cancer that if it isn't cured it can spread and lead to early
mortality. Sky is essentially harmless. It doesn't spread; people need to be watched,
but they don't need immediate treatment. And men with Teal are sort of in a transition
and typically most, not all, but most men will need treatment. The last two stages of
blue—Indigo and Royal—represent men that have relapsed disease after surgery or radiation
or advanced disease (that means either spread to the bones or they've developed resistance
to hormonal therapy).
Once you take the quiz things should be fairly self-explanatory, but questions are going
to arise. The PCRI provides an extensive amount of information on its website at PCRI.org.
The PCRI also offers a free helpline that you can call or email and get specific answers
to your questions. Prostate cancer is a disease in motion. The earlier you get to the proper
treatment, the better the outcome. Delayed treatment means that you're going to be fighting
a more advanced foe and you're going to need stronger weapons. Get the right treatment
the first time by knowing what you're dealing with. Know your stage and that will open the
door to the best possible treatment.
Thanks for watching. For more information subscribe to our channel or go to PCRI.org