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o.j. simpson dies from prostate cancer: understanding the stages and progression of the disease
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in february of this year, it was reported that o.j. simpson had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
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o.j. simpson, the man known for being an american football hero and acquitted of murder in the death of his ex-wife nicole brown and her friend ronald goldman, died on wednesday at the age of 76 after a battle with prostate cancer.
the news of his death broke on x when his family posted from his account, “on april 10th, our father, orenthal james simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. during this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”
in february of this year, it was reported that simpson had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy treatment in hospice. however, the former nfl great denied reports that he was in hospice, only confirming he had cancer in a video posted to his x account.
since prostate cancer is often slow to spread throughout the body, and the announcement of his death came shortly after it was confirmed he was diagnosed, it’s unclear how long before his death simpson had developed the cancer.
prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer in canada, affecting only males with a prostate. roughly one in nine males will develop it in their lifetime, according to the government of canada health publications page.
with a high survival rate of 91 per cent in canada, understanding the stages and progression of the disease is vital for canadian males who wish to reduce their risk of late-stage diagnosis.
understanding prostate cancer staging
in canada, there are two ways to determine the stage of prostate cancer: the tnm system and the staging system. the tnm system assesses the tumour and its characteristics, whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, and whether it has metastasized or spread to other areas of the body.
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the t in tnm can be used to determine the size and location of the tumour, whether it has grown to outside tissues, and whether it can be seen or felt in imaging tests or exams. there are four primary t levels: t1, t2, t3, and t4.
t1 tumours aren’t typically felt during a prostate exam or seen during imaging, but they can be tested through a needle biopsy. typically, cancer is found in small amounts, under or a bit more than five per cent of the removed tissue from the biopsy.
t2 is the marker used when the tumour is big enough to be felt during a prostate exam and can be seen on imaging tests. however, the diseased cells remain only in the prostate.
t3 is characterized by the tumour breaking through the outside layers of the prostate gland and into nearby tissues. it has not yet grown into the seminal vesicles.
finally, t4 is used when the tumour has grown outside the prostate and infiltrated the bladder, rectum, pelvic muscles, pelvic wall, or other nearby structures.
the staging system, which has four main stages and four sub-stages, is also used alongside the tnm system.
each stage is characterized by the psa level, which is the level of prostate-specific antigen found in the blood, the grade group, which is how likely the cancer is to spread, and the location of the tumour or cancer cells in the prostate.
the stages are as follows:
- stage 1: the cancer is localized to the prostate, unlikely to spread quickly outside of the prostate, and has a low psa level.
- stage 2a: the cancer remains localized in the prostate and is unlikely to spread quickly, with a slightly higher psa level than seen in stage 1.
- stage 2b: the cancer remains only in the prostate but is more likely to spread and has a higher level of psa in the blood.
- stage 2c: same as stage 2b, with a higher likelihood of spreading to other areas.
- stage 3a: the cancer is still only found in the prostate with a higher likelihood of spreading and higher psa levels.
- stage 3b: when in this stage, the cancer has begun to spread to nearby lymph nodes.
- stage 3c: in this stage, the cancerous cells could or could not have grown into nearby tissues, but the likelihood of it spreading is high.
- stage 4a: this stage is characterized by spreading to nearby lymph nodes.
- stage 4b: in stage 4b, the cancer has metastasized to other areas of the body, including distant lymph nodes, bones, or other organs.
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the earlier the stage at which cancer is found, the less likely it is to spread. cancer that is localized to a certain area is much easier to treat.
prognosis and survival rates for prostate cancer
family members have not yet released the stage of simpson’s prostate cancer, but typically, the disease is less likely to lead to death if caught in the earlier stages. this gives it a more favourable prognosis than many other cancers.
the factors that go into determining a prognosis include:
- high levels of psa: psa in high levels is associated with a greater risk of spread, which indicates a worsened prognosis.
- grade: the grade also tells a story about how spreadable the cancer is, so the higher the grade, the worse it will be.
- stage: as mentioned above, later-stage cancers are associated with a worse prognosis.
other factors are also taken into account when determining a prognosis for people with prostate cancer, including:
- health history
- treatments chosen
- how a person responds to treatment
even with the average prognosis being reasonably good for prostate cancer, every person is different, and thus, their experience will differ as well. that said, survival rates for the disease are quite high in canada.
according to the canadian cancer society, the five-year net survival rate, which is the rate at which people diagnosed with prostate cancer will live for five years following diagnosis as compared to the general population, is roughly 91 per cent.
when broken down into stages, those numbers change.
- stage 1: 101 per cent
- stage 2: 99 per cent
- stage 3: 100 per cent
- stage 4: 41 per cent
- unknown stage: 79 per cent
vital screening measures for prostate cancer
prostate cancer has viable and effective screening protocols in place that contribute to its overall survivability. since roughly 10 per cent of all male cancer deaths can be attributed to prostate cancer, it’s crucial to get screened as early as you can.
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it’s recommended that canadian males begin screening no later than age 50, with those at a higher risk going earlier. some risk factors that suggest earlier screening is needed include:
- being of african descent
- having a male immediate family member who had prostate cancer before age 65
- being aware of your genetic status as it relates to prostate cancer. for example, the brca gene could run in your family, and that gene is linked to prostate cancer.
if you are at a higher risk of prostate cancer or are over the age of 50, speak to your doctor about getting screened today. while not every male will develop prostate cancer, it’s always better to find out earlier when it comes to getting treatment and eventually overcoming the disease.
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