prostate-report.org

Watchful Waiting often best strategy for slow-progressing prostate cancer

According to a large-scale study from Sweden, for patients with prostate cancer that has a low risk of development, watchful waiting, also known as “active surveillance,” may be a suitable treatment option, .
The issue of how (or whether) to treat localized prostate cancer is controversial. Especially for older men, the tumor may not progress far enough to cause real trouble during their remaining expected lifespan. In those cases, deferring treatment until there are signs of disease progression may be the better option.
The researchers investigated almost 6,900 patients from the National Prostate Cancer Registry Sweden, age 70 or younger, who had localized prostate cancer and a low or intermediate risk that the cancer would progress. Data showed that from 1997 through December 2002, over 2,000 patients were assigned to active surveillance, close to 3,400 underwent radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate and some surrounding tissue), and more than 1,400 received radiation therapy. [ about watchful waiting ]