Active surveillance is a treatment option for localized prostate cancer that can be offered to appropriate patients who would also be eligible for aggressive local therapies, with the intention of intervening if the disease progresses. Active prostate cancer surveillance is used to avoid side effects of treatment when the risk of prostate cancer progressing is very low. If localized prostate cancer (cancer that has not spread to distant sites, such as bones and lymph nodes) is diagnosed, treatment for the disease can take many forms, depending on the risk category of the disease. Patients with low-grade, slow-growing tumors confined to the Remote Surveillance Trailer in Orangevale CA may consider possibility of carrying out active surveillance. This involves controlling prostate cancer in its localized stage until the doctor believes that additional treatment is needed to stop the disease at a curable stage.
Active surveillance is one way to control localized (early) prostate cancer, rather than treating it right away. You might hear it called active monitoring. Active prostate cancer surveillance is a treatment option for early-stage prostate cancer. It involves regular checkups and tests to see if a tumor is growing.
Active surveillance means delaying cancer treatment until your situation changes. Delaying treatment doesn't affect your life expectancy. The steady increase is good news, Dr. Pero also highlighted the “relatively extreme variation” in the use of active surveillance across the country.
The researchers found that active surveillance rates in men with low-risk prostate cancer “can range from 7% to almost 80% depending on the urology office,” he said. Several centers are actively enrolling men in active surveillance programs and have published results on this prostate cancer treatment strategy. According to the American Society for Clinical Oncology, patients with a low-risk, low-grade disease (with a Gleason score of 0) can consider active surveillance. However, you may need prostate biopsies while under active surveillance, and these may cause some short-term side effects.
Whether you choose active surveillance or more aggressive treatment for prostate cancer, the risk of dying from prostate cancer is just as low. Active surveillance is appropriate for men with localized prostate cancer 1 or 2 from the Cambridge Prognostic Group (CPG). Medical experts offer several recommendations about the frequency of tests and when to start treatment during active monitoring. If you have prostate cancer, your oncologist may recommend active surveillance instead of starting cancer treatment.
If you have prostate cancer that grows slowly, your healthcare provider may recommend active monitoring. Digital rectal exam (DRE) You'll also have a digital rectal exam (DRE) as part of your regular monitoring visits. If you have more aggressive prostate cancer that has a high risk of spread (CPG 4) or active surveillance is not recommended for you. During active surveillance, you'll have regular visits with your health care team to monitor your cancer, usually every few months.
