More USA Physicians opting for Watchful approach for low-risk Prostate Cancer

New prostate cancer diagnoses also declined by 23% to 29.3% among men over age 70 and 26% among men considered infirm.

The reason for the debate over who gets treated is that prostate cancer treatments, such as surgery or radiation, can lead to serious long-term side effects, such as incontinence and impotence. On the other hand, some prostate cancer grows at slow pace and is less likely to cause problems.

Dr. David Penson, the Hamilton and Howd Chair in Urologic Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., agreed with Cooperberg that the statistics are “very good news”.

With more men choosing surveillance for their prostate cancer, the researchers hope it will reopen the discussion on screening to measure blood levels of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, which often are high in men with prostate cancer. “Despite this, expectant management remains underused for men with localized prostate cancer”.

Chicago-With several years now passing since the USA Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued its grade D recommendation discouraging PSA-based prostate cancer screening, researchers are reporting conflicting findings on its impact on clinical practice. First, the UCLA team clarified the definitions of types of surveillance; thus, making it easier for physicians and their patients to decide which treatment is best for them. This represents an important resource for patients and providers considering surveillance for prostate cancer.

Men with early-stage prostate cancer increasingly are opting for regular monitoring and holding off on treatment unless the disease progresses, a new study suggests. The current study also looks at information through 2013. In addition, it addresses new technologies such as prostate MRI and fusion biopsies, which may be beneficial for surveillance patients.

“Considerable questions remain regarding both the identification of optimal candidates for surveillance, as well as understanding the ideal monitoring strategy after the initiation of observational protocols”, said Dr. Leonard Marks, study co-author and a professor of urology.

Use of so-called lively surveillance, or watchful ready, amongst men with localized prostate cancer was low from 1990 by means of 2009 however rose sharply between 2010 and 2013, in line with knowledge revealed in JAMA. But, that study defined low-risk in various ways that included between 11 percent and 40 percent of prostate cancer patients.

Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men.

To assess the effects of this recommendation, the investigators identified new cancers diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2012 in the National Cancer Database. There was an increase in the use of surgery for men 75 years or older with low-risk cancer to 9.5 percent and intermediate-risk cancer to 15 percent; however, there was not an increase in use for those with high-risk cancer, among whom androgen deprivation still accounted for 67 percent of treatment.