Sometimes, the best thing you can do is wait, or more exactly, watch and wait, at least when what your watching is prostate cancer. Reuters reports that Swedish researchers found that among 2,566 men with cancer confined to the prostate gland, there was no evidence that men who delayed surgery for one year were in worse shape once they did have the procedure. The news service reports that their tumors were no more likely to have extended beyond the prostate or have abnormalities that indicate a more aggressive cancer than men who had surgery soon after diagnosis. Wait, there’s more: the long-term survival of prostate cancer patients who waiited was nearly the same as those who rushed to the knife. After eight years, 0.9 percent of men in the delayed-surgery group had died, versus 0.7 percent of those who’d had prompt surgery.
Read more about unnecessary prostate cancer surgery.
Well, well–another study. They go on forever. 21 years ago I had successful prostate surgery and have outlicved most of my peers. At the time of my surgery a good friend was dying of prostate cancer, after seeking “alternate treatments ” all over the world. Over the years couple of other friends have died of prostate cancer after ignoring getting periodic PSA tests or follow on surgery/radiation treatments. Periodic PSAs and followon treatment are a must over 50 inspite of what the uninformed press says!!!!!
I have had prostate cancer a year ago and from the article above the have left out the biggest factor what was the PSA readings? Was the cancer in the early stages or was the PSA levels much higher either way they where diagnost with prostate cancer and had surgery whether it was now or a year from now the end result was the same, my personal opion is the sooner you get it out the better off you are. There has been alot of press release on this but one thing is fact alot of men have died from this and it is nothing to put off. The bottom line is at 50 at least get tested my doctor started looking at my PSA when I was 45 and at 54 my PSA was high enogh to through up a red flag.
I had prostate cancer in 2004 and had it removed. I agree…get it out of you as soon as possible.