How serious is it and should it be treated?
Gleason score 6 is the lowest grade of prostate cancer.
Gleason 6 prostate tumors grow slowly and may never cause a problemor even need treatment.
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Still, they should be monitored.
If results are suspect, your healthcare provider may recommend aprostate biopsythe only way to confirm the diagnosis.
These samplesalso called coresare then sent to a pathologist so they can review each one under a microscope.
Grade 1 cells are well-differentiated and look like normal tissue.
What stage of cancer is Gleason 6?
Gleason score helps determine which stage of cancer you have, but it has a different meaning.
Gleason score describes how abnormal the tumor cells are and how likely they are to spread.
Stage describes where the cancer is located and how far it has spread.
In 2014, a revised grading system for prostate cancercalled Grade Groupswas established.
What Does Gleason 6 Mean?
Though the samples dont look like normal tissue, no grade 4 or 5 samples were found.
A Gleason score of 6 means that all of the tissue samples in your biopsy were grade 3.
This means that the cells are not normal, but arent necessarily aggressive or causing a concern.
Gleason 6 prostate tumors are:
Prostate cancers with a Gleason score of 6 are not usually considered serious.
This knowledge allows your healthcare provider to monitor you and see how your tumor changes over time.
This, however, runs counter to the stances of major medical organizations.
However, in recent years, experts have revisited this one-size-fits-all approach to prostate cancer.
Experts now understand that low-risk prostate cancerlike Gleason 6 tumorsmay not need treatment right away.
It is the most low-risk throw in of the disease.
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American Cancer Society.Prostate cancer stages.
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American Urological Association.Clinically localized prostate cancer: AUA/ASTRO/SUO Guideline.
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