Is Prostate Cancer Treatment Worth It?
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Could men with prostate cancer be at greater risk of dying from something else first?
This may certainly be true for those men who have very slow growing tumors and have chosen the watchful waiting path rather than more aggressive measures.
For those who undergo treatment, Harvard researchers have a concern that hormonal therapy may have something to do with the increased risk of heart disease death. But this may only be the case in men who already have heart disease or a strong risk of it.
The information is in the British Journal of Urology International and they found that men with prostate cancer were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease or other types of cancer over a six year period.
Hormone therapy is used to try and slow the growth of prostate tumors but there is a key message: the potential risks of hormone therapy have to be weighed against the potential benefits.
Certainly if aggressive treatment is necessary it should be considered.
