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Early-stage prostate cancer by risk group

If you've just learned you have early prostate cancer, you likely have time to learn your options and choose what's right for you and your family. Your risk group is the key.

ℹ️ General information to help you and your loved ones talk with your care team, not medical advice. Read our disclaimer.

The quick guide

What it means: Risk groups combine your PSA, Grade Group (from the Gleason score) and how much cancer is in the prostate. NCCN uses very low, low, favorable intermediate, unfavorable intermediate, high and very high. Cancer in nearby lymph nodes only is called regional.

How it's found: PSA, biopsy, and sometimes MRI, PSMA PET or other scans. Genetic and genomic tests may refine the risk.

How common it is: Most men are diagnosed when the cancer is still in the prostate.

How treatment works

🌱 Early-stage

  • Very low and low risk: active surveillance is often preferred; surgery or radiation are options.
  • Favorable intermediate: surveillance for some, or surgery or radiation.
  • Unfavorable intermediate: surgery, or radiation with short-term hormone therapy (ADT).
  • High and very high: radiation with long-term ADT (sometimes plus abiraterone), or surgery.
  • Regional (node-positive): radiation with ADT, often plus abiraterone, or surgery.

🔁 Advanced or metastatic

  • If PSA rises after treatment, options include more radiation, ADT, or Xtandi with ADT for some high-risk recurrences. See hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant pages.

Approvals depend on stage and prior treatment. Your care team will decide what fits you.

Drug guides

Biomarker tests that matter

Side effects you may notice

❓ Questions you and your loved ones can ask

Back to Prostate cancer overview. Other types: Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Written by the Cancer Side Effects Guide team from FDA labels and leading cancer centers. Not medical advice. · Last updated: October 15, 2026 · How we write

Not medical advice. This page is general information to help you talk with your care team. It can't replace advice from your doctor or nurse. If you have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher during treatment, or any symptom that worries you, call your care team now. In an emergency, call 911.

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