Active Surveillance Gets Important Endorsement

Posted by Prostate Seed Institute on August 16th, 2016

For many of the 180,000 American men diagnosed with prostate cancer annually, active surveillance may be a very viable “treatment” option. This relative lack of action is, in fact, advised in many cases where intervention risks may very well outweigh any benefits gained by immediate treatment with surgery, chemo or radiation. This seemingly unconventional approach to treating cancer is gaining ground as a viable option. The American Society of Clinical Oncology recently endorsed the use of active surveillance for men with many low-risk cases.

Active surveillance involves the careful monitoring of prostate cancer by a healthcare provider. Men undergo routine testing to ensure their cancer hasn’t advanced or spread. If concerns arise during surveillance, treatment options still remain very much available to men.

The reasons active surveillance is gaining ground are many. The biggest happens to be the nature of low-risk prostate cancer. This form of the disease is known to be very slow growing. In many cases, men with low-risk prostate cancer are much more likely to die from other causes long before their cancer becomes a serious threat. Since prostate cancer tends to involve treatments that produce side effects that are very disconcerting to men, waiting on treatment is advised in lower risk cases. Side effects of prostate cancer treatment can include impotence and incontinence, for example. Since these issues may greatly negatively impact a man’s quality of life, holding off on treatment when advisable often makes more sense. Many men with low-risk forms of the disease may find they never require treatment at all.

Men who are diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer are urged to discuss all treatment options with their healthcare providers. Active surveillance may be a very viable choice in many cases. If it is recommended, men should be very mindful of following through with any testing or screening requested. This simply ensures intervention is made available immediately if it becomes necessary to preserve longevity.

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Dr. Echt and his team at the Prostate Seed Institute offer the most highly sophisticated methods of radiation therapy available in the United States, equal to that found in major medical center and academic settings. These include prostate seed implantation, high dose radiation implants, and external beam radiation with image-guided and intensity-modulated (IGRT and IMRT) capabilities.

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Prostate Seed Institute
Joined: September 17th, 2015
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