Open AccessExpectant management for men with early stage prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Filson Christopher P.,
Marks Leonard S.,
Litwin Mark S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
ca: a cancer journal for clinicians
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 62.937
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1542-4863
pISSN - 0007-9235
DOI - 10.3322/caac.21278
Subject(s) - expectant management , stage (stratigraphy) , prostate cancer , management of prostate cancer , medicine , prostate , gynecology , cancer , oncology , pregnancy , biology , gestation , paleontology , genetics
Answer questions and earn CME/CNE Since the dissemination of prostate‐specific antigen screening, most men with prostate cancer are now diagnosed with localized, low‐risk prostate cancer that is unlikely to be lethal. Nevertheless, nearly all of these men undergo primary treatment with surgery or radiation, placing them at risk for longstanding side effects, including erectile dysfunction and impaired urinary function. Active surveillance and other observational strategies (ie, expectant management) have produced excellent long‐term disease‐specific survival and minimal morbidity for men with prostate cancer. Despite this, expectant management remains underused for men with localized prostate cancer. In this review, various approaches to the expectant management of men with prostate cancer are summarized, including watchful waiting and active surveillance strategies. Contemporary cancer‐specific and health care quality‐of‐life outcomes are described for each of these approaches. Finally, contemporary patterns of use, potential disparities in care, and ongoing research and controversies surrounding expectant management of men with localized prostate cancer are discussed. CA Cancer J Clin 2015;65:264–282. © 2015 American Cancer Society.