Stages of prostate cancer
The clinical stage of a cancer describes how far the cancer has spread, as determined by the rectal examination. The classification commonly used to stage prostate cancer in the UK is shown here in a simplified form. (The prefix T is used to identify the tumour stage, for example T1 or T2). It is very important to remember that although all prostate cancers have the potential to progress (spread or grow larger); it may take many years to pass from Stage T1 to T4.