The negative health impacts of treating less aggressive forms of prostate cancer can be greater than potential gains, new research has found.
Men with short life expectancy and less aggressive forms of cancer may face significant risks associated with treatment but receive few medical benefits. This is because prostate cancer in these patients is unlikely to progress or cause significant pain in the remaining years of life.
A study of over 39,000 men aged over 67 showed that a high proportion of men with moderate-risk cancer and short life expectancy were still undergoing treatment. Researchers suggest that cancer characteristics and patient life expectancy should be considered in decision making.
Read more at Yale University