Australian prostate cancer treatment praised by visiting American Professor James Eastham

This should be of interest to American males,I had no idea our country were treating prostate cancer any differently than the US when a positive diagnoses was found.

AUSTRALIA and New Zealand are among the best places in the world to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to a visiting US professor who says aggressive treatment is being avoided in many cases.

In many countries, a diagnosis of prostate cancer almost always leads to removal or radiation therapy.

In Australia and New Zealand, however, many low-risk patients are being managed by active surveillance.

This means they are monitored with regular blood tests, biopsies and MRIs and aggressive action is taken only if the disease becomes life-threatening.

Visiting American professor James Eastham, who will address urologists at a conference in Melbourne on Monday, is full of praise for his colleagues in Australia and New Zealand.

He says about one in three men who are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer are candidates for active surveillance.

In Australia and New Zealand, about half of these are managed with active surveillance.

This is well ahead of the US, where only about 10 per cent of eligible patients are managed by active surveillance.

This leads to over-treatment.
www.perthnow.com.au...

"this leads to over-treatment" Something to think about guys,health wise and your pockets.

Its important to get checked annually (bite the bullet,I was worried but you`ll still be water tight ) from around 50 years and over and first test age at 40.www.webmd.com...

Wow I thought you guys over in the US would think this info on unnecessary procedures being performed on you would be of interest.

*shrugs*

reply to post by gps777


S&F from me. Very informative. Now I know to ask for alternative treatments if I ever come down with prostate cancer.
Thanks for the thread.

reply to post by kimish


Fantastic to know kimish!

The thought of many American guys going and have already gone under the knife or having radiation therapy when its not needed should be alarming.

Even if you guys take a visit to Australia if needed to get a second opinion before drastic measures are taken.

Hopefully the American professor James Eastham will start adopting these approaches in the US.

I'm giving this thread a bump. More men should be made aware.