Radical prostatectomy versus watchful waiting in early prostate cancer.

Abstract

Prostate cancer continues to be a significant factor in morbidity and mortality. Due to high prevalence (most common cancer in U.S. males) and mortality (second most common cause of cancer deaths in males), prostate cancer is one of the most crucial health problems in men. The discussion of managing early prostate cancer is not only common, but also complicated. Treatment decisions involve scant survival data and quality of life issues such as impotence and urinary incontinence. Watchful waiting has also had to fight the paradigm of surgery curing cancer.