Prescrire international
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Prescrire international · Oct 2012
ReviewManagement of localised prostate cancer: watchful waiting, surgery or radiation therapy, depending on the natural course, which is often relatively slow.
Localised prostate cancer, confined to the prostate gland, occurs mainly in men over 65 years of age. The principal management options are watchful waiting, prostatectomy and radiation therapy. Which of these options has the best harm-benefit balance for patients with localised prostate cancer? To answer this question, we conducted a review of the literature using the standard Prescrire methodology. ⋯ Patients should be informed of the risks associated with each of these options and should be actively involved in the choice of treatment. Treatment is often warranted for patients with high-risk localised prostate cancer. The main options are either radical prostatectomy or external beam radiation therapy combined with hormone therapy.