Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with more than 52,000 men diagnosed with the disease every year on average.
It can be hard to spot because it doesn’t usually cause any symptoms until the cancer has grown large enough to put pressure on the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis, known as the urethra. This means the disease is often diagnosed when it’s advanced to later stages.
Survival for prostate cancer is generally good, if diagnosed early. Like all cancers, survival rates drop as the disease advances.
No one can tell someone diagnosed with cancer how long they will live, as this depends on many factors. But some general statistics based on large groups of people, published by Cancer Research UK, reveal rough guidance.
The figures, available for each stage of prostate cancer in England, are for people diagnosed between 2013 and 2017.
Stage 1
This means the cancer is in only half of one side of the prostate, or less, according to the charity. At this stage, it’s also completely contained with the prostate gland.
The charity says: “Almost everyone (almost 100 percent) will survive their cancer for five years or more after they are diagnosed.”
Stage 2
This is when the cancer is in more than half of one side of the prostate. But again, it is still completely contained within the prostate gland.
The charity advises: “Almost everyone (almost 100 percent) will survive their cancer for five years or more after they are diagnosed.”
Stage 3
This is when the cancer has broken through the covering of the prostate gland and may have spread into tubes that carry semen.
The charity says: “Around 95 out of every 100 men (around 95 percent) will survive their cancer for five years or more after diagnosis.”
Stage 4
This can mean a number of things:
- the cancer has spread into nearby body organs, such as the back passage or bladder
- the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes
- the cancer has spread to other parts of the body outside the pelvis, such as the lungs or liver
The charity says: “Around 50 out of every 100 men (around 50 percent) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.”
As well as what stage the disease is at, Prostate Cancer UK says there are a number of other things that can affect a person’s outlook:
- Your Gleason score or grade group – the higher your Gleason score or grade group, the more aggressive the cancer, and the more likely it is to spread.
- Your treatment options – you may be able to have treatment aimed at getting rid of the cancer. Or you may be able to have treatment to keep the cancer under control. Read more about choosing your treatment.
- Your health – if you have other health problems, you may have fewer treatment options. And you may be more likely to die from another condition, such as heart disease.
- Your PSA level – after you’ve been diagnosed, PSA tests are a good way of monitoring your prostate cancer and seeing how you’re responding to treatment.
- How successful your treatment is – your treatment may be successful at getting rid of your cancer or keeping it under control. But for some men, treatment may not work as well as expected.
If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, your doctor will give you more information about your outlook (prognosis).
