The TNM method stages cancer by providing three different scores. Lower numbers generally mean less advanced cancer than higher numbers. The three scores relate to:
* Tumor: A score from 0–4 describes the size of the primary tumor.
* Nodes: A score from 0–1 describes whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
* Metastasis: A score from 0–1 describes whether the cancer has metastasized to other parts of the body.
Metastatic prostate cancer will have any T or N number with an M number of 1.