Private MD News

Surgery most effective at treating prostate cancer

Category: Prostate

Following a positive prostate cancer test, men have several options for treatment. However new research from the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit has found that men with cancer who avoid surgery in favor of a program of monitoring have a significantly worse long-term survival rate.

The study found that men who refused any treatment for prostate cancer had a 10-year survival rate of 50 percent, while those who opted for surgery had a 68 percent survival rate.

Naveen Pokala, lead researcher, said that the results confirm prior studies which showed that surgery is the most effective option. However many men still pursue other treatment strategies that are less effective.

"Surgery has been shown to offer a survival advantage to patients with prostate cancer when compared with other treatment options," Pokala said. "However, a significant number of patients refuse surgery and instead opt for other treatments."

Pokala added that prostate cancer can be easily cured while in its early stages, but it can be deadly when it is left untreated and spreads beyond the prostate gland.