Decisions on radiation for prostate cancer may affect life expectancy

Tue., July 20, 2004

Linda Searing The Washington Post

The question: Some men who have had their prostate and surrounding lymph nodes removed because of cancer decide to have radiation soon after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. Others hold off, waiting to see if the cancer returns. Is one decision wiser than the other?

This study analyzed the recurrence of cancer and survival rates among men who had surgery for prostate cancer that had not spread, comparing 237 men treated with radiation within six months with 178 men who either had no radiation or delayed treatment until the cancer returned. Based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after an average of five years, 69 percent of the men treated with radiation remained free of cancer, compared with 31 percent of those who had foregone early treatment. The men not treated within six months faced a four times greater risk of death during the study than those who had received prompt radiation.

Who may be affected by these findings? Men with prostate cancer. More than 230,000 American men, most over 65, will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year.

Caveats: These findings contradict an earlier study that found minimal differences in results between immediate and delayed radiation treatment. Concerns about the toxicity of radiation keep some men from choosing it; the study did not evaluate side effects. The study was not randomized.

Bottom line: Men with prostate cancer may want to ask their doctor about radiation.

Find this study: July 1 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics; abstract available online at www.redjournal.org.

Learn more about radiation therapy by searching for “radiation” at www.cancer.gov and www.cancer.org. Both Web sites also have general information about prostate cancer.

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