Prognosis
Prognosis for Early Stage Disease
When we discuss the issue of “Survival Rate”, we are referring to a percentage of patients who live a specific number of years after the cancer is diagnosed. Generally speaking, prostate cancer survival rates are good, and only getting better. When prostate cancer is detected in its early stages, cure rates can be as high as 98%.
Prognosis in Late Stage Disease
Locally Advanced. If the disease is at the locally-advanced stage, in which it has spread beyond the prostate but only to nearby regions, it is more difficult to cure, but survival rates can be prolonged for years in many men. (When cancer has metastasized to the pelvic lymph nodes, the outlook is worse than if it has spread to other areas.)
Metastasized Cancer. If prostate cancer has metastasized (spread to distant organs), average survival time is 1 to 3 years, while some may live longer or die of other causes.
Prognosis After Recurrence
If cancer recurs after initial treatment for early-stage tumors, it is still potentially curable if it is contained within the prostate (although in most cases the cancer has spread). Even though the cancer almost always returns again, hormone therapies for such recurring cancers can often prolong survival for years.