More men with prostate cancer opting for surveillance
UCI Health urologist suggests it may not be right for all patients
IN THE NEWS: The number of men opting for active surveillance of low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer increased dramatically between 2010 and 2018, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine this month.
UCI Health urologist Dr. David Lee spoke to Healthline about the decision more men are making to hold off on surgery or radiation.
“While I agree that active surveillance is likely not offered as often as it should be, this treatment option is not appropriate for all men with low-risk disease,” said Lee, director of the UCI Health Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Program.
For one, active surveillance requires a commitment to regular tests and imaging. For another, he said, “The thought of having a cancer inside one’s body can be very anxiety-provoking.”
Lee, who was not involved in the study, is a nationally-regarded leader in robot-assisted prostatectomies and the author of more than 200 published articles, abstracts and book chapters on minimally invasive urologic surgery.
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