Monday, March 18, 2013

Semantics

Many men with prostate cancer don't need to do anything definitive.

The general consensus is that we (The US) have been too aggressive (with surgery and radiation) in treating many stages of prostate cancer. It's felt that many men have had their lives adversely effected by side effects to aggressive attempts at a cure such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

Our long term outcomes are very similar to many other countries that do a lot more "watchful waiting."

A research trial is underway and has also confirmed that men here don't like the term "watchful waiting." It seems to give the impression that the medical community has given up on them and that death is the only thing sure to follow.

Interestingly, the term "active monitoring" does not conjure up the same feelings amongst men.

That's potentially an easy fix.

We'll just need to see what the future holds.

Most men want to stay "up" with the latest news as well (pun intended).

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