Active Surveillance Used More to Monitor Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer may not always be as sinister as the word “cancer” implies.

Eric Katz, MD, an endourology and minimally invasive surgery specialist with Hartford HealthCare’s Tallwood Urology & Kidney Institute, says the most important thing for someone newly diagnosed with prostate cancer to know is the disease is not one-size-fits-all.

“Rather, it’s on a wide spectrum, ranging from very low risk to very high risk or very aggressive, and there is a lot of gray area in between,” he says.

For patients with certain low-risk types, experts often recommend management called active surveillance to determine who ultimately needs treatment and who can safely avoid it.

What are the signs to watch for? Read more here.