TY - JOUR
T1 - A new look at an old option in the treatment of early-stage prostate cancer
T2 - Hormone therapy as an alternative to watchful waiting
AU - Yang, F. E.
AU - Song, P. Y.
AU - Wayne, J.
AU - Vaida, F.
AU - Vijayakumar, S.
PY - 1998/9
Y1 - 1998/9
N2 - Watchful waiting is an attractive option in the management of early-stage, lowgrade prostate cancer because of the high financial costs and complication risks associated with surgery and radiotherapy. Despite the drawbacks of current local therapy, neither treatment can demonstrate a discernible survival benefit over observation alone. Even the slowest progressing disease, however, can potentially develop into a deadly medical problem. As a result, physicians and patients frequently have difficulty accepting untreated cancer. Therefore, we propose that another option be considered in cases of prostate cancer that would otherwise qualify for observation alone: the use of two oral hormonal agents, flutamide and finasteride, to achieve complete androgen blockade. Some evidence exists which suggests that such therapy may improve symptom-free survival, and perhaps overall survival as well. This 'aggressive' form of 'conservative' therapy may satisfy patient concerns that are not adequately addressed by current forms of therapy.
AB - Watchful waiting is an attractive option in the management of early-stage, lowgrade prostate cancer because of the high financial costs and complication risks associated with surgery and radiotherapy. Despite the drawbacks of current local therapy, neither treatment can demonstrate a discernible survival benefit over observation alone. Even the slowest progressing disease, however, can potentially develop into a deadly medical problem. As a result, physicians and patients frequently have difficulty accepting untreated cancer. Therefore, we propose that another option be considered in cases of prostate cancer that would otherwise qualify for observation alone: the use of two oral hormonal agents, flutamide and finasteride, to achieve complete androgen blockade. Some evidence exists which suggests that such therapy may improve symptom-free survival, and perhaps overall survival as well. This 'aggressive' form of 'conservative' therapy may satisfy patient concerns that are not adequately addressed by current forms of therapy.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031705746&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0031705746&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0306-9877(98)90083-4
DO - 10.1016/S0306-9877(98)90083-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 9792203
AN - SCOPUS:0031705746
SN - 0306-9877
VL - 51
SP - 243
EP - 251
JO - Medical Hypotheses
JF - Medical Hypotheses
IS - 3
ER -