Download Prostate Cancer ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE Program

Is ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE
right for you?
Active Surveillance may not be the
best choice for everyone with lowrisk prostate cancer. Some men
may not want to make regular visits
for testing.
Other men are
uncomfortable with the idea of
continuing to have prostate cancer
untreated, even if it is low-risk and
may prefer to have treatment as
soon as possible.
Often men
choose Active Surveillance for a
period of time and if progression is
detected they may decide to
undergo treatment.
The most common reason for
further treatment is a biopsy that
shows the prostate cancer is
growing or becoming more
a g g r e s s i ve i n a p p e a r a n c e .
Changes in PSA or ultrasound
results may also lead to treatment.
Prostate Cancer
ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE
Program
Because your health is important
to you and your family,
choose wisely and live healthy.
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Vigilance is necessary with this
approach. Patients must adhere to
a schedule of screening blood tests
and biopsies to ensure proper
monitoring for possible progression
of the disease.
Your doctor is happy to discuss any
questions you have about Active
Surveillance. Together, you can
decide whether this is a good
option for you.
www.uhsurology.com
Choose wisely, live healthy
Prostate Cancer is the most
commonly diagnosed cancer in
men in the United States. But
many prostate cancers may
grow slowly and may not need
to be treated right away, if at all.
What is ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE?
Active Surveillance is an approach
to prostate cancer treatment that
involves monitoring the disease and
watching for progression, rather than
undergoing surgery or radiation
treatment immediately. It requires
close monitoring of the cancer
through frequent doctor visits. If the
cancer progresses, other treatment
options can be discussed with your
doctor.
What to expect when participating
in the ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE
Program...
In recent years it has become
easier to diagnose prostate
cancer in its early stages.
However, early diagnosis may
not mean that you need
immediate treatment. When you
are diagnosed, your doctor will
perform several tests to learn
the volume, grade and stage of
the cancer to determine how
quickly your tumor is likely to
grow.
For men diagnosed with low-risk
prostate cancer, your Urologist
may recommend
Act i ve
Surveillance to routinely monitor
the extent of cancer in your
prostate.
If you choose active surveillance,
you will visit your doctor for regular
checkups. During these visits you
will undergo tests to find out if there
have been any changes in your
prostate cancer. The tests usually
include:
 A blood test to measure prostatespecific antigen
months.
(PSA)
every
3-6
 A prostate biopsy every 1 to 2 years.
If these tests show the cancer is
g r owing or becom ing mor e
aggressive, your doctor may
recommend that you have surgery,
radiation therapy, or other treatment.
But if the changes are minimal, your
doctor may advise that it is safe to
continue with the Active Surveillance
program.
Who is a candidate for ACTIVE
SURVEILLANCE Program?
Only men with cancers that are
considered at low risk for spread or
growth beyond the prostate and who
are not experiencing any symptoms
are reasonable candidates for active
surveillance. However, this approach
is not likely to be a good option if you
are have a fast growing cancer, or
you are older and have other health
issues.
The doctor’s recommendation for
Active Surveillance is based on an
individual patient’s age, clinical
findings, and the patient’s
preferences. Criteria that help guide
in the risk assessment of an
individual’s prostate cancer are based
on levels of prostate-specific antigen
(PSA) in the blood, microscopic
evaluation of the prostate biopsy
specimen, and imaging studies such
as trans-rectal ultrasound, and
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).