Several studies have shown that treating older men with prostate cancer does not extend their lives. What is does do is damage the quality of their lives and move money from medical insurers to urologists. Younger men are more likely to benefit from prostate cancer treatment. Yet now comes a report from researchers at the Yale School of Medicine showing that from 1998 to 2007, the biggest increase in treatment was among men with moderate-risk prostate cancer who had the shortest life expectancy. In fact, the researchers found that cancer treatment decreased among men with low-risk tumors and longer life expectancy. In a Yale School of Medicine news release, Dr. Cary Gross, associate professor of internal medicine at Yale School of Medicine, said treating patients with shorter life expectancy may add costs or complications without contributing to quality of life. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network practice guidelines in oncology recommend actively monitoring patients as an alternative to medication for patients with less aggressive tumor types and shorter life expectancies. Read more from the Yale Med School.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
I am 73 an have a PSA of 23 and a Gleason #7 in one area of the prostate. We have just been monitoring the PSA and it has gone up and down but remains around 20. My last visit to the DR was maybe radiation treatment as they are concerned with it spreading to the bones. I had a bone density test about 6 months ago. Any advice?
How many samples were taken in your biopsy in order to arrive at your Gleason score of 7 ? How many of the samples showed cancer? I would like to recommend that you consider Proton Therapy as it offers the best quality of life with little or no side effects. There is an excellent book called “How to survive Prostate Cancer” written by Bob Marckini. The book covers almost all treatment modalities and the pros and cons of each. Call the University of Florida’s Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, Fl. at 1-904-588-1800 and ask for an information packet. It will include the book.I did Proton Therapy and would be glad to talk to you about it if you would like some in depth info. Send me an email with your phone and I’ll call you. Good luck and God bless. John
My husband will come home from the hospital tomorrow after having his prostate removed. His PSA was 16 and his Gleason score was 4. Even though he was a low risk patient, the Dr. recommended that he have the prostate removed. He is 68. He had surgery on 2/28 using the DeVinci method. It took 7 hours but he is doing very well. There was a gentleman in the bed next to his in the hospital who six years ago had the seeds implanted in the prostate and he was cancer free for six years but it came back and he now has cancer not only in the prostate but in his bones. Why have to sorry about it coming back? If your Dr. recommends you have it removed, you may want to reconsider that over treatment.