Watchful Waiting
is a prostate cancer treatment for patients with low
Gleason scores, low PSA levels, low PSA velocities,
and nonpalpable tumors, which indicate that the disease
is still small and slow-growing. Watchful waiting entails
visits to a doctor every 3 to 6 months for regular PSA
tests and DRE exams. The tumor is considered so small
and probably so slow-growing that pursuing treatment
can be held off in the interest of maintaining the patient's
quality of life. All prostate cancer treatments entail
a variety of side effects that include but are not limited
to impotence and incontinence. Watchful waiting is also
called expectant therapy, expectant management, conservative
management, observation, or surveillance.
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