Prostate cancer — delaying treatment may be safe for some
Men who discover an early case of prostate cancer may decide to hold off on treatment without taking a big risk, according to Stephen Weller, M.D., a Mills-Peninsula radiation oncologist.
“For many men over the age of 75 an early cancer does not develop into a dangerous condition,” he said.
While one man in six will get prostate cancer during his lifetime, only one in 35 will die of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
A recent study at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School found the majority of men who chose to delay or skip treatment for prostate cancer were alive a decade later without significantly worsening symptoms, or they had died of other causes.
That’s because most of the time, prostate cancer grows slowly, Dr. Weller said.
“Since it becomes more common as men age, the question of treatment following a diagnosis after age 75, 80 or older frequently arises,” he said.
“Depending on each man’s age and general health, it may be safe to monitor the condition and treat if the cancer worsens.”
However, men who are healthy and have more advanced cancer should consider early treatment, Dr. Weller said.
“The size and appearance of the tumor and level of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) in the blood are important factors in deciding whether treatment is advisable.”
Treatments for prostate cancer have improved, death rates are going down and it’s being found earlier, the doctor said.
Mills-Peninsula was one of the first in the San Francisco area to introduce a new technology called the Calypso® 4D Localization System™ — otherwise known as GPS for the Body® — to treat prostate cancer.
“Three tiny Beacon® transponders -— each the size of a grain of rice — are implanted into a patient’s prostate prior to surgery,” says radiation oncologist Steven Kurtzman, M.D. “These electromagnetic transponders communicate with the localization system using safe radiofrequency waves, monitoring the location of the prostate during treatment.”
By tracking organ motion during radiation therapy, clinicians are able to avoid potential damage to nearby organs and surrounding tissues, the doctor said.
Dr. Kurtzman’s patient, Linton Young of San Mateo, was recently treated for prostate cancer using the Calypso System.
“I have finished my radiation treatment and have had very little side effects,” says Young. “I‘m very excited to be back to my normal routine of working and exercising.”