Thanks to advanced screening techniques, millions of men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Back in 1986, a prostate-cancer specific antigen (PSA) blood test gave doctors a new way to check for tumors and catch them relatively early.
But not all of them may need aggressive treatment. New research from the VA Outcomes Group in Vermont indicates that more than a million men may be getting treatment for tumors that are growing too slowly to do any harm.
Prostate cancer kills more than two hundred and fifty thousand men around the world each year — it is one of the most common cancers in men. PSA testing has been important in reducing the number of deaths due to prostate cancer… but at the same time may be indicating the need for treatment in those who don’t really need it (yet).
There are three choices for treating prostate cancer: surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy. The treatments come with some risky side effects, including impotence and incontinence, but for serious prostate cancer, these treatments can be a lifesaver.
Experts and health care professionals aren’t sure about the best approach to PSA tests and results. In 2008, a panel suggested that doctors stop using PSA tests to screen men over the age of seventy-five. Two studies of the test produced conflicting results, making the question even more muddled.
One possible solution may be to adopt a “watch and wait” attitude for prostate cancer. If the tumor is not growing rapidly, it may not need treatment. If the tumor is growing rapidly, doctors and patience can decide which course of treatment will be best. One study found that men with low-risk prostate tumors were still doing well after eight years or more without any treatment.
A watch and wait approach may not sit well with patients — the C word is a scary one, and with many other types of cancer, the attitude seems to be “the earlier you catch it, the better your chances for survival are.” A cancer diagnosis can cause anxiety and may cause issues with health insurance.
For now? If your doctor suggests a PSA test and subsequently diagnoses prostate cancer, talk about all your options — including watching and waiting if that is something you feel comfortable with.