When examining your biopsy under a microscope, doctors look at the patterns formed by cancer cells. These patterns are graded on a scale from 1 to 5, known as the Gleason grade. You'll hear about cancer-related grades 3, 4, or 5. The higher the grade, the more aggressive and likely the cancer will grow and spread.
Making Sense of the Gleason Score
Your Gleason score is a bit more complex. It's the sum of the two most common grades observed in your biopsy samples. This score helps predict how fast the cancer might grow and spread. For instance:
A score of 7 (3+4) suggests most cancer cells grow slowly, with a smaller proportion at a moderate rate.
Conversely, a score of 7 (4+3) means more cancer cells are likely to grow at a moderately quick rate than slowly.
The Significance of Grade Groups
Recently, doctors started using "grade groups" as a more straightforward way to categorise the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. These groups range from 1 to 5 and correspond to your Gleason score:
- Grade Group 1 (Gleason score 6): The cancer is likely growing very slowly, if at all.
- Grade Group 2 (Gleason score 7, 3+4): Most cancer cells grow slowly, but some can grow moderately fast.
- Grade Group 3 (Gleason score 7, 4+3): Many cells will likely grow moderately.
- Grade Group 4 (Gleason score 8): Cancer cells are likelier to grow moderately to quickly.
- Grade Group 5 (Gleason scores 9-10): Indicates a high likelihood of rapid cancer growth.
What This Means for You
A cancer is more likely to spread if it has a higher Gleason score or grade group. These numbers help your medical team determine the best way to treat you: active monitoring, surgery, radiation, or something else. It tells you how to fight your cancer in the best way possible.
Don't forget that your doctor or nurse will review your results with you to ensure you understand what they mean to you. This is only the beginning of what you need to know to understand the main points of your test report.
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