Dr. Yu Discusses Observation Versus Treatment in Men with Prostate Cancer

Peter Yu, MD, director, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, president-elect, ASCO, discusses results of a review that examined men’s treatment decisions after seeing a rise in their PSA levels.

Yu says when a man who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and treated for cure with either radiation or surgery receives a PSA blood test that has a value higher than 0.02, a decision has to be made. Physicians and patients must decide whether or not treat the patient with hormone therapy or to wait.

Usually when this occurs, the patient is feeling fine and there are no signs of cancer, Yu says. Hormone therapy brings quality of life issues such as fatigue, hot flashes, mood changes and loss of libido.

One of the studies presented at the 2014 ASCO Annual Meeting reviewed data of men who decided to wait or pursue treatment. Yu says the results showed that there was no difference in survival regardless of their decision.

Yu says this is an important piece of information because men and doctors can now better discuss remaining on observation or starting treatment.