(Taiwan English News / Comprehensive report by Huang Ziti) Is surgery really the best treatment for prostate (prostate) cancer patients? A more than ten-year follow-up study shows that active tracking may be a better choice.
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Associated PressAccording to reports, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (National Institute for Health and Care Research) commissioned an external study to divide patients with localized prostate cancer, that is, without metastasis to the lymph nodes, into three groups to explore the possibility of surgery. Removal of tumors, radiation therapy, and tracking are three options that are better than others. It turned out that there was not much difference.
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on the 11th.
The study began in 1999. A total of 1,600 British men with localized prostate cancer participated in the study and were randomly divided into three groups: surgery, radiotherapy, and follow-up. The follow-up group had regular blood draws, and some still had surgery or radiation therapy afterwards. Because most prostate cancers progress slowly, research took many years.
After 15 years, it was found that the survival rate of all patients was quite high, reaching 97%, which can be said to be quite exciting news. After all, treatment may cause sexual problems or urinary incontinence, and patients are not without reason to fear.
During this period, the mortality rates of each group were the follow-up group (3.1%), the radiotherapy group (2.9%), and the operation group (2.2%). Statistically, there was no significant difference. In terms of cancer cell spread, follow-up group (9.4%), radiotherapy group (5%), surgery group (4.7%).
However, since the research started more than ten years ago, the tracking technology is now better, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and genetic testing have made great progress. Experts believe that it is possible to detect and intervene immediately when cancer cells are deteriorating and before they spread. As far as the United States is concerned, about 60% of low-risk patients currently choose the active tracking method.
The importance of this research lies in the fact that patients who are diagnosed with cancer and do not know what to do should not panic. They should consider the benefits and disadvantages of various therapies, and do not make a sudden decision to “treat” the tumor, perhaps through active treatment first. Just track it. Of course, the lead author of the study, Freddie Hamdy of the University of Oxford, emphasized that a small number of high-risk patients or patients with other serious diseases still need immediate intervention.
Prostate cancer surgery-free 15-year long-term study: Active follow-up is effective
