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There are no drugs, freezing temperatures, or radiation
involved in watchful waiting, so there are no medical
side effects. Watchful waiting is a choice for primary
and salvage treatment patients who want to avoid the
side effects associated with other forms of prostate
cancer treatment.
Patients who opt for watchful waiting,
however, do run the risk that of the prostate cancer
spreading in between doctor’s visits. Prostate
cancer in some less common cases, will extend, metastasize,
or rapidly grow between the check-ups that occur every 3
to 6 months.
Other patients may feel that watchful
waiting is the equivalent of the doing nothing and that
expectant is simply the equivalent of waiting for the
prostate cancer to take over. Because prostate cancer
usually grows so slowly, this is often not the case.
Patients who feel that they receive no pleasure out
of daily due to excessive concern for the growth of
their cancer should speak with their doctors or possibly
a counselor. For other patients, watchful waiting may
actually provide relief and reassurance.
Patients should speak with their
doctors if the anxiety associated with watchful waiting
begins to interfere with everyday life. A doctor may
be able to suggest life style changes that could possibly
benefit the body in its fight against prostate cancer,
and also benefit the patient and his loved ones’
emotional well-beings.
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