When cancer affects the prostate, a small gland in males, it is known as prostate cancer. To treat this disease, it is important to know how far it has spread, and staging is important to do that. So, here’s what you need to know about the various stages of prostate cancer:

Stage I
The stage grouping method is followed by doctors around the world to categorize the stages of prostate cancer. In this method, roman numerals are used to mark the stages, and understanding the stage of the disease allows a doctor to pick the most effective course of treatment. When a person is diagnosed with stage I prostate cancer, it is limited to the prostate and hasn’t spread to any other part of the body. At this stage, doctors might not feel the tumor during a digital rectal exam or even see it in imaging test results. At stage I, the prostate cancer tumor covers only one-half or even less of one part of the prostate.

Stage IIA
At this stage, cancer continues to grow in the prostate but hasn’t spread to other parts of the body. The tumor might not be felt during a rectal exam or seen in imaging tests, but it has covered more than half of one of the prostate’s lobe.

Stage IIB
At this stage, the cancerous tumor continues to grow inside the prostate but hasn’t spread to other parts of the body. It might not be felt during a rectal exam or seen in the results of an imaging test, but it has covered one or both prostate lobes.

Stage IIC
Here, the cancer is still inside the prostate and not spread to other body parts. It might or might not be felt during a rectal exam or seen in an imaging test, but it has affected one or both prostate lobes. The cancer cells at this stage are more abnormal as compared to stage IIB.

Stage IIIA
The disease is still limited to the prostate gland, and the tumor may or may not be felt or seen during a rectal exam or in an imaging test. Cancer has not reached the lymph nodes yet.

Stage IIIB
At this stage, cancer has begun spreading outside its origin but has not reached the lymph nodes or other distant body parts yet.

Stage IIIC
Cancer might have spread and affected parts outside the prostate gland, but it is yet to reach the lymph nodes.

Stage IVA
At this stage, cancer might have affected the tissues close to the prostate gland. It has reached the lymph nodes but is yet to affect the distant body parts.

Stage IVB
At this stage of prostate cancer, the disease has affected the lymph nodes and distant parts of the body like the bones and other organs.