A New Look at an Old Option in the Treatment of Early-Stage Prostate Cancer: Hormone Therapy as an Alternative to Watchful Waiting
September 1998
in “
Medical hypotheses
”
TLDR Hormone therapy might be a proactive alternative to watchful waiting for early-stage prostate cancer, potentially improving survival without aggressive treatment downsides.
The document discussed the potential of hormone therapy as an alternative to watchful waiting in the treatment of early-stage, low-grade prostate cancer. It highlighted the high costs and risks associated with surgery and radiotherapy, which do not show a clear survival benefit over observation. The authors proposed using two oral hormonal agents, flutamide and finasteride, to achieve complete androgen blockade. This approach aimed to address patient concerns about leaving cancer untreated and suggested that hormone therapy might improve symptom-free survival and possibly overall survival.
