Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Called Over-Treated Disease

About 10% of men with early-stage prostate cancer have unnecessary surgery and 45% receive unnecessary radiation, according to University of Michigan researchers. More than half of 24,405 men with low-risk prostate cancer who were candidates for expectant management (watchful waiting) instead received aggressive treatments. The study appeared in the Aug. 16 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The authors conclude that "greater attention to the factors that influenced the use of expectant management among men with prostate cancer is essential insofar as initial patient counseling and shared decision making mark the most important role that physicians play during the course of caring for patients with localized prostate cancer."

Bonnie - from the ineffectiveness of the PSA (prostate specific anitgen) to the study above, males with prostate cancer have to give much thought to how they want to proceed (with or without treatment).