Active Surveillance

You’ve received a diagnosis of prostate cancer and now you must decide on the way forward. You are certain to have many options but one of the alternatives is Active Surveillance.

Active Surveillance is an increasingly popular and viable option. Mostly, it’s chosen by men who – for their own personal reasons – have decided not to undergo surgery or radiation therapy.

Many of them are already struggling to overcome other medical issues. Some, for example, have heart disease. Others may have high blood pressure. And still more might have diabetes that is hard to control. In all of these cases and more, their doctors may recommend that it is in their best interest to delay surgery or radiation. Their bodies are already weakened and they may not be able to withstand these invasive treatments and their potential side effects.

Survivors of prostate cancer treatments will tell you that these treatments can be difficult to endure. Conquering cancer can take all of your strength and the outcomes are always better in men who are otherwise healthy.

So, if you feel that your body might not be up to the fight, it may just be right for you to take some time out. Focus on bringing your body up to its optimum health and practice some Active Surveillance while you get it to this level.

So, what exactly is Active Surveillance? Essentially, it’s a process of keeping a watchful eye on your body. Your doctor will carefully monitor your cancer for any signs of progression. Typically, a PSA blood test and DRE will be administered every six months and scrutinised for any signs of cancer growth. A biopsy will also be performed on the prostate every year to ensure that the cancer is still under control.

These tests are very reliable. The PSA blood test tests for the presence of the PSA protein in the bloodstream. This protein is produced in small amounts by the prostate. When there is a problem, more and more of it is released. This makes it a good indicator of prostate cancer.

However, the presence of elevated PSA levels are not entirely conclusive by themselves. During a PSA test, a small amount of blood is drawn from the arm and the level of PSA is measured. If it’s over 4ng/ML, it’s cause for worry. That worry need not necessarily be related to cancer as PSA can be elevated if other prostate problems are present.

This is why we need another test to corroborate the findings of the PSA test – the DRE. The DRE is a digital rectal exam. During this exam, the physician will insert a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum in order to examine for any irregularities in size, shape or texture. Irregularities combined with elevated PSA levels are a cause for concern.

With Active Surveillance, you will undergo both these exams on a regular basis. Provided your cancer remains under control, you will be able to focus on making your body strong enough to progress to another, stronger form of treatment when the time comes. This is precious time. Put it to good use, preparing your body for the challenges to come.

Active Surveillance has been shown to be a good choice for many men with slow-growing or early stage cancers. As previously mentioned, it can also be a good alternative for men who have other serious medical conditions. However, if symptoms do develop and if the cancer does start to grow, treatment might be warranted. You must be ready for this to occur at any time.

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