Radical prostatectomy as treatment for prostate cancer

Michael A.S. Jewett; Neil Fleshner; Lawrence H. Klotz; Robert K. Nam; John Trachtenberg

Submit a Response to This Article

Compose Response

Title *

References

Author Information

Contributors

First Name and Middle Initial *

First or given name, e.g. 'Peter'.

Last Name *

Your last, or family, name, e.g. 'MacMoody'.

Degrees

Email Address *

Your email address, e.g. higgs-boson@gmail.com

Occupation *

Your role and/or occupation, e.g. 'Orthopedic Surgeon'. Minimum 7 characters.

Affiliation *

Your organization or institution (if applicable), e.g. 'Royal Free Hospital'. Minimum 12 characters.

Address

Your organization, institution's or residential address.

Statement of Competing Interests

Competing interests? *

Yes

Please describe the competing interests

Vertical Tabs

Jump to comment:

Early detection is not neccesarily better
V Seth

Posted on: 29 January 2003

Posted on: (29 January 2003)

Early detection is not neccesarily better
V Seth, MD Clinical Prof. UND School Of Medicine
The authors towards the end of this excellent review comment that availability of studies in the coming years would place prostate cancer management on par with Breast cancer management where studies done for over 30 years have crystallized management options. I believe questions about breast cancer screening being similar to PSA in finding early,more treatable disease & not prolonging overall survival are still bein...
Show More

The authors towards the end of this excellent review comment that availability of studies in the coming years would place prostate cancer management on par with Breast cancer management where studies done for over 30 years have crystallized management options. I believe questions about breast cancer screening being similar to PSA in finding early,more treatable disease & not prolonging overall survival are still being raised.
Thus a very sensitive test finds a cancer early at obviously more treatable phase.Longer survival is proudly noted. With disease found by physical exam (breast exam/Rectal Exam)some years later and shorter survival is noted BUT no credit is given for the extra years of (pre diagnosis)cancer free life of the individual!
The fear,anxiety and costs inflicted on the patients for needless biopsies (prostate or breast)and monitoring (mammograms or prostate ultrasounds) over this time are also similar.
Show Less

Competing Interests: None declared.