Prostate cancer is common cancer in men, especially those who are older than 50 years of age.
Many men with prostate cancer may not experience any symptoms in the early stages of the disease, which is why regular screening is important for early detection.
Some common symptoms of advanced prostate cancer may include difficulty urinating, pain or discomfort during urination, blood in the urine or semen, erectile dysfunction, and pain in the hips, back, or chest.
Researchers from the University of Oxford have found evidence that monitoring localized prostate cancer over the long term can be a safe alternative to undergoing immediate surgery or radiation treatment.
The findings provide encouragement to men who wish to avoid treatment-related sexual and incontinence problems.
In the study, researchers directly compared the three approaches of surgery, radiation, and monitoring.
They followed over 1,600 U.K. men who agreed to be randomly assigned to receive surgery, radiation, or active monitoring.
The patient’s cancer was confined to the prostate gland, which is part of the reproductive system and about the size of a walnut.
Men in the monitoring group had regular blood tests, and some later underwent surgery or radiation.
The team found no difference in prostate cancer mortality at 15 years between the groups.
Death from prostate cancer occurred in 3.1% of the active-monitoring group, 2.2% in the surgery group, and 2.9% in the radiation group.
Moreover, prostate cancer survival was high for all three groups, regardless of the treatment approach, with a 97% survival rate.
The team advised men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer not to panic or rush into treatment decisions.
Instead, they should carefully consider the possible benefits and harms caused by each treatment option. A small number of men with high-risk or more advanced diseases may require urgent treatment.
In the U.S., around 60% of low-risk patients choose monitoring, now known as active surveillance.
If you care about prostate cancer, please see recent studies about what you need to know about cancer and booster shot, and new cancer vaccines that eliminate tumors and prevent cancer recurrence.
For more information about prostate cancer, please read studies about a new strategy to treat advanced prostate cancer, and a new way to lower the risk of prostate cancer spread.
The study was conducted by Dr. Freddie Hamdy et al and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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