Aggressive treatment may be beneficial to Prostate Cancer at the early stage

age 65 for men early stage prostate cancer, those who have removed prostate are less likely to die that those who adopt a "wait under surveillance" approach, according to a new study in the long term Europe.

But the conclusions are not likely to be practical - change, said Dr. Richard e. Greenberg, Chief of Urologic Oncology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, who did not participate in the study.

"It's relatively early stage of the disease, and it shows what we would expect to show: that those who have more years [to live] have better survival if treated aggressively,"he says. ".

Men with prostate cancer are confronted with a confusing maze of options today, including not only the surgery but a hormone therapy, different types of radiation therapy and medical treatment even simply above all monitoring cancer ("vigilant waiting")("," also called "active surveillance").

"Waiting, under surveillance" is often recommended when a man is not expected to die of cancer and I would like to avoid the risk of debilitating side effects associated with the treatment of prostate cancer. Can be: incontinence and erectile dysfunction (surgery); the treatment of erectile dysfunction and secondary cancers (radiotherapy). nausea, the growth of the breast, liver problems (HT); and weakness, loss of hair, retention (chemotherapy).

The data presented in the May 5 of the New England Journal of Medicine issue is a follow-up of 15 years of study for which three years of follow-up had been reported.

The earlier study also found that undergoing a radical prostatectomy reduced the risk of cancer spread, and the rate of death by cancer of the prostate or any other cause.

Researchers, Drs. Anna Bill-Axelson and Lars Holmberg of the Hospital of the University of Uppsala and colleagues enrolled nearly 700 men of prostate cancer at the beginning under the age of 75 who have been selected randomly to undergo a radical prostatectomy or to remain in "wait under supervision" mode.

After the death average follow-up of about 13 years, 14.6% of the men who had undergone surgery, compared to 20.7% in watchful waiting group, 38% reduction in risk.

The benefit was observed primarily in men aged less than 65 years, and the authors estimated that seven men aged less than 65 years of age and 8 more than 65 years should be treated to save a life.

There was also an advantage for men whose tumors had characteristics of low-risk.

Men whose cancer had moved off the prostate and which underwent an ablation of the prostate had a seven times greater risk of dying men whose tumors did not spread.

Radical prostatectomy may be a price, including erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence and incontinence of bowel even if these effects are not common that improve techniques. A radical prostatectomy nerve, for example, may be able to prevent erectile dysfunction.

In addition, the men in this study were diagnosed after that they had symptoms, unlike the majority of men, to the United States said Greenberg.

"The advantage of testing is that men are more likely to be cured of cancer, but they also have a greater chance of not succumbing to the consequences of surgical complications, if [such] erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence,"says Greenberg. ".

Also, he said, erectile dysfunction can also be a factor of aging and can be treated in most cases.

But much remains to be known about how to treat different types of prostate cancer.

"The management of cancer of the prostate stage continues to require more controlled randomised, studies that are underway, to determine the true benefit of the treatment or expectation," said Dr. Marc Danziger, an attending urologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York Citywho did not participate in the study.

"Currently, the potential benefits and adverse treatment must be resolved on an individual basis to the stratification of the risks of illness, patients desires, of tolerance status and health risks," Danziger added.