Scientists are asking an unusual question: what if one type of prostate cancer should no longer be called cancer?
A new UCLA-led study suggests that changing the name of the lowest-risk form of prostate cancer could help more men make better healthcare decisions and may even prevent thousands of deaths each year.
The findings were published in JAMA Oncology.
Prostate cancer is very common, but not every prostate tumor behaves the same way. Some forms grow rapidly and spread throughout the body, requiring prompt treatment. Others grow extremely slowly and may never become dangerous.
Grade Group 1, also called Gleason 6, belongs to this lowest-risk group. Research has shown that these tumors do not spread on their own and usually remain harmless unless a more aggressive cancer develops later.
Because of this, doctors usually recommend active surveillance instead of surgery or radiation. Patients receive regular PSA tests, imaging scans, and occasional biopsies so doctors can detect any changes early.
Unfortunately, many men become frightened after hearing the word cancer and choose treatment even when it offers little benefit. These treatments may lead to lifelong problems with bladder control, bowel function, and sexual health.
The research team wondered whether removing the cancer label could reduce this fear. They developed a computer model using information from U.S. population data and previous research involving prostate cancer screening and treatment. The model estimated what might happen if Grade Group 1 were described as a precancerous condition instead.
Their results were encouraging. The researchers estimated that increased acceptance of PSA screening could prevent about 2,835 prostate cancer deaths each year. Even after accounting for the possibility that some men might become less careful about follow-up monitoring, the model still predicted a net reduction of almost 2,400 deaths every year.
The study also challenges the traditional reliance on disease labels. According to Dr. Scott Eggener, medicine has previously renamed several very low-risk conditions affecting the bladder, cervix, thyroid, and even some prostate tumors when scientific evidence showed they were unlikely to cause harm.
Not everyone agrees with this idea. Some experts worry that removing the cancer label might cause patients to underestimate the importance of regular check-ups. Missing follow-up appointments could allow more aggressive cancers to develop without being detected in time.
The researchers acknowledged this concern and tested many different scenarios. Even when they assumed poorer follow-up and only small increases in screening, the model still predicted fewer prostate cancer deaths overall.
Although this study cannot prove what would happen in real life because it relied on mathematical modeling, it provides a thoughtful analysis of an important healthcare question. Large real-world studies will be needed before any official changes are made.
Overall, the evidence suggests that clearer, less frightening medical language may help reduce unnecessary treatment while encouraging more men to participate in life-saving prostate cancer screening.
If you care about prostate cancer, please read studies about 5 types of bacteria linked to aggressive prostate cancer, and new strategy to treat advanced prostate cancer.
For more information about prostate cancer, please see recent studies about new way to lower risk of prostate cancer spread, and results showing three-drug combo boosts survival in metastatic prostate cancer.
Source: UCLA.
