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Prostate Cancer -Treatment Options - Watchful Waiting

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Nithin Jayan, MBBS, DNB on May 14, 2018


Watchful Waiting

This can better be read as 'observation'.

Patients with an early stage of the cancer are better managed by close observation of changing symptoms and disease progression rather than initiating treatments all of a sudden. In fact some men may never need treatment.


Follow-up blood tests, rectal exams and possibly biopsies are recommended to monitor progression of the cancer.

Watchful waiting is recommended in cases where:

However, watchful waiting carries a risk of cancer growing and spreading between checkups, making it less likely to be cured.

If tests show that the cancer is progressing, treatment can be initiated.

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