If you or a loved one is facing a prostate cancer diagnosis, you’re surely doing an internet search on what a Gleason score is and how it’s relevant to your cancer.
In the most simplistic terms, the Gleason score is just ONE grading scale used to determine how aggressive a prostate cancer is and what may be the best treatment option, according to the Prostate Cancer Education Council.
But since there are two grading systems – the Gleason Score and the Grade Group – along with cancer staging and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels – sorting through the diagnosis and the numbers can get confusing. So. let’s break it down.
Gleason Score Grading
The Gleason score was developed by pathologist Dr. Donald Gleason in the 1960s because he discovered that cancerous cells fall into five different, yet distinct, patterns as they morph from normal to malignant cells. That’s why cells were originally graded from 1 to 5. Cells graded at 1 are the most normal whereas cells graded at 5 are typically considered high grade – meaning they’ve changed the most.
However, since the original classification, the numbers 1 and 2 are no longer used. Only 3, 4 and 5 are assigned, and they are assigned twice.
Gleason Score Grade One
The pathologist reviewing a patient’s biopsy will give a number from 3 to 5 on the most predominant pattern in the biopsy.
Gleason Score Grade Two
Then the pathologist will assign a number from 3 to 5 on the second most predominant pattern in a biopsy.
Gleason Score Added
Finally, the two numbers are added.
For example, if the first number is a 5 and the second is a 4, the score is 9. The scores will range from 6 to 10, with 6 being the lowest grade cancer.
Prostate Cancer Grade Groups
Here’s where it gets a bit tricky. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, in 2014, the International Society of Urological Pathology placed the Gleason scores into grade groups.
- A score of 6 fall into Grade Group 1 – the least aggressive group
- 3+4 falls into Grade Group 2
- 4+3 falls into Grade Group 3
- 8 is Grade Group 4
- 9 or 10 falls into Grade Group 5 – the most aggressive group
Prostate Cancer Staging
On top of the Gleason Score and the Grade Group, prostate cancer is also staged from Stage I to Stage IV, with Stage I being localized to the prostate, and Stage IV, if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
What Do These Numbers Mean for Prostate Cancer Patients?
Doctors take the Gleason Score, the Grade Group, the stage of the cancer and the PSA level to determine how aggressive a cancer is and the best treatment option for a patient, according to ZERO Prostate Cancer.
Then it’s up to a patient to take this information and make an informed decision on how to proceed.
CyberKnife Treatment for Prostate Cancer
The experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami are here to help you make the right decision for you. CyberKnife Miami offers state-of-the-art radiation treatment for prostate cancer called stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT.
Here are the advantages:
- It’s noninvasive.
- There is no risk of infection, and no long periods of downtime like with surgery.
- CyberKnife’s treatments can be done in five therapy sessions over 10 days instead of 42 over three months with other types of radiation treatments.
- The CyberKnife radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are exceedingly precise so there is a reduced risk of side effects including impotence and incontinence.
“CyberKnife is an amazingly precise way to deliver radiation to the prostate,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of CyberKnife Miami on CyberKnife Miami’s YouTube Channel. “It’s not readily available in all places, but Miami is blessed to have the CyberKnife Center of Miami, which has an amazing amount of experience.”
CyberKnife Treatment Miami
At CyberKnife Miami, we have successfully treated hundreds of prostate cancer patients from across the country and right here in South Florida with excellent results.
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, call CyberKnife Miami for a consultation. Bring us your Gleason Score, Grade Group, PSA level and stage of cancer, and we’ll help you make sense of it all.
If you would like to find out more about prostate cancer treatment with CyberKnife, call us at 305-279-2900 or go to our prostate cancer website now for more information.