Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer: What It Entails

Did you know 1 in 8 men in America are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and every year almost 250,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed? At Urological Associates in Charlottesville, Virginia, our highly qualified team of board-certified urologists specialize in diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. 

If you’re one of the thousands of men to receive a prostate cancer diagnosis, you need to decide between early treatment or active surveillance. Take a moment to learn more about active surveillance and what’s involved.

Understanding active surveillance

Prostate cancer typically grows very slowly. When you’re diagnosed with prostate cancer, your provider may recommend active surveillance instead of active treatment, especially if you’re older or have other health complications. 

Active surveillance involves close monitoring of your cancer. To monitor your cancer, your provider observes your symptoms and usually conducts the following:

• PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood tests (usually every 6 months)
• An annual digital rectal exam (DRE)
• Imaging studies (schedule depends on your situation)
• Prostate biopsies (usually every 1-3 years)

If any of these tests or studies indicate a significant change in your prostate cancer, your provider may discuss the need to move into active treatment. 

Candidates for active surveillance

Not everyone diagnosed with prostate cancer is a good candidate for active surveillance. Your Urological Associates provider reviews your medical history and discusses all options with you before recommending a course of treatment. 

You may be a good candidate for active surveillance if:

• The prostate cancer isn’t causing troublesome symptoms
• Your Gleason score indicates the cancer will grow slowly  
• The cancer is small and contained in the prostate
• Your PSA level is low (<10ng/ml)

Active surveillance may not be for you if we discover your cancer is growing quickly or you have a high Gleason score, the cancer has spread, you have advanced age, or you are a younger man for whom the cancer may be a cause of concern in the future. 

When to move to active treatment

Active treatment isn’t usually recommended until the cancer begins to grow and become a more serious health threat. Some men never need active treatment since prostate cancer tends to grow very slowly. Active treatment may include:

• Brachytherapy (tiny radioactive capsules placed into the cancerous prostate tissue)
• Radical prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate)
• Chemotherapy
• Biological therapy
• Hormone therapy

At Urological Associates, we take your wishes into consideration when forming a treatment plan. Our team makes recommendations based on our expertise, but ultimately the decision to opt for active treatment rests in your hands.  

Schedule a prostate cancer screening or learn more about your treatment options by calling Urological Associates in Central Virginia at 434-295-0184. You can also schedule an appointment online now.