Immediate versus deferred treatment for early prostatic cancer

Abstract

The diagnosis of early (non-metastatic) prostatic cancer is dependent upon the patientpresenting himself with symptoms or for routine rectal examination or ultrasound screening. Diagnosis inthe absence of symptoms is more common outside the United Kingdom and as a result the opportunity totreat such patients occurs more commonly in other countries.The treatment options for the different stages are reviewed and the evidence for their effectiveness isconsidered.A review of the literature yields conflicting evidence of the efficacy of and the necessity to institute earlytherapy. This basic gap in our current knowledge should be filled when the results of the existing MedicalResearch Council (MRC) clinical trial of immediate and deferred orchidectomy are available. © The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine, 1987.