Survival Rate Improves After Surgery In Prostate Cancer Patients

Did you know that survival rate is higher in prostate cancer patients who opts for surgical intervention as compared to those who choose other forms of cancer treatment?

This conclusion was drawn from a new study, according to which 10-year survival rate is much higher in patients who chose surgical approach for the management of prostate cancer. The results are even better in younger men who have certain tumor features. The results of this study were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Details Of The Study About Survival Rate Of Prostate Cancer Patients

So far, there hasn’t been any significant research that compares the efficacy and effectiveness of different prostate cancer treatments. In most cases, the treatment choice is made on a variety of patient, doctor and cancer-related

factors. To analyze the efficacy of different therapeutic modalities independent of this criterion, a team of Swiss investigators studied the data obtained from Geneva Cancer Registry. The research team selected 844 male subjectswho were diagnosed with localized prostate malignancy during the period ranging from 1989-1998. Among 844 men, over 158 men chose surgical approach to excise parts of (or entire prostate cancer) for cancer management. Out of remaining patients, 205 patients received radiotherapy, about 72 men chose hormonal treatment, 375 chose observation (watchful waiting without any therapeutic intervention) and 31 selected a totally different therapeutic approach.

The average follow-up period for this study was 6.7 years (ranging from 0 to 15.8 years).

After the completion of study, investigators discovered that men who chose no therapy (watchful observation) or radiation therapy are at much higher risk of cancer related mortality compared to those who chose surgical removal of prostate (prostatectomy).

Based on the data obtained; here are the 10-year cancer survival rates:

• Non-traditional treatments = 71%
• Hormonal manipulation = 41%
• Watchful observation = 72%
• Radiation therapy = 75%
• Surgical removal of prostate = 83%

The risk of death with radiation therapy and watchful observation was highest in elderly males who had poorly differentiated cancers. Investigators believes that patients should make their treatment decisions by carefully weighing the effectiveness of different therapeutic modalities and their risk profile.

References

• Merglen, A., Schmidlin, F., Fioretta, G., Verkooijen, H. M., Rapiti, E., Zanetti, R., ... & Bouchardy, C. (2007). Short-and long-term mortality with localized prostate cancer. Archives of Internal Medicine, 167(18), 1944-1950.