How Long Does It Take Prostate Cancer to Develop

It could take virtual ages for prostate cancer to develope? anywhere from five to ten years, and even more; or it could take between a mere couple of months and two or three years. One of the worst things about prostate cancer is that there are yet many answers that are elusive concerning the malignancy, resulting in several more questions than there are answers to them.

The thing is that the rate of prostate cancer growth and spread varies from man to man, so that one overall clear-cut rule does not exist to govern them all.
However prostate cancer is essentially a slow growing disease, one that could be incident and growing in a patient’s organ for year before its first symptoms and outward signs start to show. In men over the age of 70 with early-stage prostate cancer, the disease often progresses so slowly that they are likely to die of other causes before they even develop prostate cancer symptoms.

This actually is why several oncologists believe that many patients in this age group can forgo surgery or other treatments as long as their condition is regularly monitored ? a treatment option known as watchful waiting.

Another complication that occurs, especially in the instance of microscopic tumors, is that they often grow too slowly to cause symptoms in a man’s lifetime or to affect how long he lives. Consequently, his doctor may do more harm than good by exposing him to a PSA test and other follow-up tests like ultrasound imaging and a biopsy in order to determine if the cancer is there because of his elevated PSA scores.

Stage one prostate cancer remains essentially in the prostate gland and is even undetectable by a DRE; it is the type that has to be there usually for up to three years before it might even graduate to stage two disease. Stage two will be felt by the rectal exam, but it has to be confirmed by a PSA test and then a biopsy. After detection, doctors prefer to watch and wait for a while to determine how progressive or aggressive the carcinoma is.

This watchful waiting may prove healthy for the patient if the disease does not progress before other symptoms of aging overtake him. He would be fortunate to be able to die of other natural causes.
But what are the odds? Usually in about two-thirds of men diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer and subscribed to watchful waiting, the disease often starts to advance in a little over two years. Stage three prostate cancer is likely to have been there and undetected for several years, perhaps five. It is indicated by most of the outward signs of prostate cancer ? pain and blood in urination and semen, as well as some pain in other parts of the body.
It is not very long after this (if the disease is not appropriately treated) that stage for sets off, marked by a lot of bone pain, incontinence, and usually paralysis.
This also could take place anywhere from five years after initial diagnosis to ten, or it could be shorter, depending on the aggression of the disease.