Former President Joe Biden’s recent prostate cancer diagnosis has shed light on the importance of understanding Gleason scores. This numerical value, ranging from 6 to 10, provides crucial information to healthcare providers regarding the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.
Dr. James H. Griffin, a urologist at Advocate Health Care, explains that Gleason scores categorize prostate cancer into low risk (6), intermediate risk (7), and high risk (8, 9, 10) levels. Unlike traditional cancer staging systems, Gleason scores offer a more nuanced assessment of the disease’s severity.
Calculating a Gleason score involves combining two Gleason grades assigned to the most and second most predominant cancer cells. Pathologists grade these cells between 3 (least aggressive) and 5 (most aggressive), allowing for a precise evaluation of cancer risk. Swapping the predominant and secondary grades can alter the Gleason score, impacting the overall risk assessment.
When it comes to treatment decisions, Gleason scores serve as just one of several factors considered by healthcare providers. Alongside prebiopsy prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, the total number of positive tissue samples, prostate volume, and imaging results, Gleason scores help guide treatment plans for prostate cancer patients.
For individuals seeking cancer expertise, Advocate Health Care offers a network of specialists in Illinois and Wisconsin. Whether you are at low, intermediate, or high risk, consulting with a healthcare provider knowledgeable about Gleason scores and treatment options is essential in managing prostate cancer effectively.