A study from Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis has shown that men with low-risk prostate cancer might be better off choosing observation of the tumor rather than surgical removal. In the study group, men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer who had surgery to remove the tumor did not live significantly longer than patients who did not have the surgery.
In 1994, a blood test called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was introduced. The test made detection of early stage prostate cancer much easier. Doctors are able to identify many cases of prostate cancer that would otherwise go unnoticed. However, low-risk prostate cancer is a common occurrence among men. It is thought that many of these cancers will not cause the patient harm. Patients should always make informed decision, and discuss the risks and benefits of different types of treatment with their doctors.
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