Prostate Cancer Prognosis Explained: Stages, Risks, and Tips

If you are a man living in Washington State, the odds of you developing prostate cancer in 2025 are lower than the national average – 108.6 of every 100,000 men compared with 118.3 nationally (according to the American Cancer Society).

Does that improve the odds of a good prostate cancer prognosis?

The answer depends on a number of factors, from when the prostate cancer is diagnosed to your lifestyle routine. If detected early, your prostate cancer prognosis is good – nearly all men who begin treatment in the beginning stages survive, for many years.

Further, research shows that men with healthier lifestyles have an edge over prostate cancer. According to a 2024 report in JAMA, an estimated 36% of deaths among men with high genetic risks for prostate cancer might have been prevented with healthier practices.

These practices include precautionary steps, such as getting a regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening to keep tabs on potential cancer-prone cells in your blood. The following explains how certain risks and behaviors can influence your prostate cancer prognosis.

How Prostate Cancer Develops

The prostate is a small gland with a big job. First, it secretes the fluid that nourishes sperm, making it necessary for reproduction. Second, it is located at a critical point of your urinary system, below the bladder and surrounding the urethra. So any changes in prostate health, including prostate cancer, can cause urinary and reproductive issues.

Prostate cancer develops when a miscommunication in DNA causes the cells to multiply too fast and not die off when they should. These accumulating cells eventually form into a tumor, or cancer.

Prostate cancer is generally slow-growing, so regular screenings can help detect it before you experience the symptoms, which include:

• Urinating more frequently, especially at night.
• Trouble starting and stopping your urine stream, which can be weak.
• Blood in your urine or semen.
• Pain in the lower back, hips, chest, or bones.

Consider these signs as red flags to see your doctor for a screening. Doing so can improve your prostate cancer prognosis.

How Your Prostate Cancer is Diagnosed

Physicians determine each patient’s prostate cancer prognosis through two methods. The first is called the Gleason score, a system that grades the cancer’s aggressiveness on a scale from 2 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

The second method takes into account the tumor stage, where the cancer has spread, and how it was diagnosed (such as through a PSA test, imaging, and needle biopsy). The American Cancer Society defines each stage and survival rate as:

Stage I is the earliest stage. The cancer exists only in the prostate, making the five-year prognosis for survival higher than 99%.

Stage II indicates a larger tumor, but still limited to the prostate. The prostate cancer prognosis holds at a better-than-99% survival rate.

In Stage III, the cancer has spread from the gland to immediately surrounding areas, including the seminal vesicles, pelvic wall, rectum, and bladder. The five-year survival rate is 95%.

Stage IV describes cancer that has metastasized, or spread to sites far from the prostate, such as the lymph nodes, bones, and other organs. The prognosis for five-year survival drops to 37%.

The overall cancer survival rate is 97%, because 92% of cases are diagnosed in the first three stages. The prognosis remains encouraging in the long term. According to Johns Hopkins, the average survival rate is 98% after 10 years and 95% after 15 years.

Factors That Can Alter a Prostate Cancer Prognosis

The above odds for survival apply to all of the 6,730 Washingtonians expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2025. But even if detected early, a prostate cancer prognosis hinges on other variables. These include:

Brothers or father with prostate cancer. If immediate male family members have had prostate cancer, especially a brother, your probability of contracting the disease doubles. This risk climbs if the cancer occurs at a young age.

The patient’s race. Black men are 76% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than white men, and they are 120% more likely to die from the disease. Medical experts advise Black men as young as 40 to talk to their doctors about a PSA screening.

The prostate test results. The PSA prostate test screens your blood for antigens, a cancer-marking protein your cells make. The widely considered “normal” PSA reading is 4 nanograms of antigen per milliliter of blood, but that reading can vary among men. Ask your doctor which of the several types of PSA tests is right for you.

Your age when cancer is detected. Men younger than 50 and older than 80 account for the highest prostate cancer mortality rates, according to WebMD. Younger men don’t usually seek a prostate cancer test, so the disease is more likely to spread before a diagnosis.

Improve the Odds for a Better Prostate Cancer Prognosis

Regardless of whether you carry any of the above cancer risks, you can improve your prostate cancer prognosis through the following wellness practices, which your health advocate can advise you on.

• Increasing your steps, laps, or jumps. Moderate physical activity, most days of the week, will benefit your overall health, in part by helping to control weight and improve your mood.
• Eating natural, non-processed foods. Fill your plate with a range of fresh vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains. Leave less room for red meat, ready-made meals, sweets, and animal fats (including high-fat dairy).
• Seeking smoking cessation. Prostate cancer tends to spread in people who smoke. If you smoke, ask your doctor for tips on how to quit.
• Updating your PSA test annually. When performed at the advised age and regularly monitored, PSA tests can save lives. One report concluded that PSA screenings prevented one prostate cancer death in every 11 to 14 patients.

Your odds for a positive prostate cancer prognosis begin with proactive measures. You have the control, and we’re here to guide you.

Learn more about prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment options, including Spokane Urology’s high-intensity-focused ultrasound treatment for prostate cancer. If you would like a consultation, request an appointment.