Prognosis estimates
Use this page if you prefer to know estimated percentages of men who typically survive five years or more after diagnosisThe process of determining which condition a patient may have. of different types of cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body..
Localised prostate cancer
Between 65 and 98 per cent of men will live for more than five years following diagnosisThe process of determining which condition a patient may have.. Some of these will be cured with radical treatment. Others may have a cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. that is so slow growing that it will not have progressed within the five years, even with no treatment of any kind. Some men may eventually die in old age without the cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. ever causing any problems.
Locally-advanced prostate cancer
About 60 per cent of men will live for more than five years after diagnosisThe process of determining which condition a patient may have..
Metastatic prostate cancer
About 30 per cent of men will live for more than five years after diagnosisThe process of determining which condition a patient may have.. On average, men in this situation can expect their cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. to respond to treatment for about 12 to 18 months. Average survival after that is about another two years.
Risk groups in localised prostate cancer
If you have localised prostate cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body., you may be advised that you are in a low, intermediate or high 'risk group'. The risk predicts how likely the cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. is to spread outside the prostate. Your risk group will be based on your PSA, Gleason score and T-stage and helps to determine the appropriate treatment. This table summarises the risk groups:
| Low risk | PSA less than 10ng/ml | GleasonA system used to assess the extent of abnormality of prostate cancer cells. score 6 or less | T2a or less |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intermediate risk | PSA 10-20ng/ml | GleasonA system used to assess the extent of abnormality of prostate cancer cells. score 7 | T2b |
| High risk | PSA more than 20ng/ml | GleasonA system used to assess the extent of abnormality of prostate cancer cells. score 8-10 | T2c |
Read more about risk groups and the recommended treatment options in the Choosing treatments section.
