A new study suggests that changing the name of the lowest-risk form of prostate cancer could reduce unnecessary treatment, encourage more men to get screened, and potentially save thousands of lives each year.
Researchers led by UCLA argue that the earliest and least dangerous type of prostate cancer, known as Grade Group 1 (GG1) or Gleason 6, may no longer deserve to be called “cancer.”
Their findings, published in JAMA Oncology, suggest that labeling it as a precancerous condition instead could help patients make better decisions without increasing overall health risks.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. However, not all prostate cancers behave the same way.
Some are aggressive and can spread to other parts of the body, while others grow so slowly that they may never cause symptoms or become life-threatening.
Grade Group 1 falls into this lowest-risk category. Research has shown that these tumors do not spread on their own and usually do not cause symptoms.
Because of this, doctors generally recommend active surveillance instead of immediate treatment.
Active surveillance involves regular PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood tests, MRI scans, and occasional biopsies to monitor the cancer rather than removing or treating it right away.
Despite these recommendations, up to 40% of men diagnosed with GG1 in the United States still choose surgery or radiation treatment.
The word “cancer” may be one reason why. Hearing that diagnosis often causes fear and anxiety, leading some patients to choose treatment even when it is unlikely to improve their health. These treatments can have lasting side effects, including problems with bladder control, bowel function, and sexual health. A cancer diagnosis may also affect a person’s ability to obtain life insurance.
The researchers believe that changing the name could reduce this fear while still encouraging careful monitoring.
To estimate the possible impact, the team built a computer model using U.S. population data and results from previous studies.
They examined what might happen if GG1 were renamed and some men became less likely to continue active surveillance. At the same time, they also considered whether more men might agree to PSA screening if they were less worried about being diagnosed with a harmless form of “cancer.”
Their results suggested the benefits would outweigh the risks.
The researchers estimated that changing the name could encourage more men to undergo PSA screening, preventing about 2,835 prostate cancer deaths each year by detecting more dangerous cancers earlier. Even if fewer patients followed active surveillance recommendations, leading to an estimated 452 additional deaths, the overall result would still be a net reduction of nearly 2,400 prostate cancer deaths every year.
The researchers also tested several different scenarios, including situations where more patients stopped surveillance or where screening increased only slightly. Even under these less favorable conditions, the model still predicted fewer deaths overall.
Not everyone agrees with the proposal, however. Some experts worry that removing the word “cancer” could give patients a false sense of security. If people believe the condition is harmless, they may skip important follow-up appointments. Without regular monitoring, a higher-grade cancer that develops later might not be detected until it becomes more advanced.
The researchers acknowledge that their study is based on mathematical modeling rather than following real patients over many years. Because of this, the results depend on assumptions about how patients and doctors would respond to a name change. More research will be needed to see what would actually happen in clinical practice.
Even so, the study highlights an important question about how diseases should be described. The researchers believe medical terms should accurately reflect the true risk of a condition.
They hope the findings will encourage doctors, researchers, and patients to rethink how low-risk prostate cancer is classified and discussed, helping men make informed decisions without unnecessary fear.
