This extensive study into prostate cancer is impressive not only for its apparent depth but also for it honest approach to the outcome. It confirms yet again that when it comes to doctors suggesting the most appropriate treatment for prostate cancer they are actually taking a stab in the dark; flying blind as it were.

To my mind then, this surely means that the patient - armed with suitable research and discussion - is still the best person to make the ultimate choice of treatment; without him first being coerced into a choice by his doctor using fear as the catalyst, and in some instances, greed as the motivator.

Extract:
MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 5 — For localized prostate cancer, the therapy of choice remains in the eye of the clinical beholder despite a systematic review of nearly 500 studies that sought guidance from evidence-based approaches.

The review of 18 randomized trials and 473 observational studies found insufficient data to compare the efficacy or safety of available treatments, reported Timothy J. Wilt, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Minnesota, and colleagues in the Feb. 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

“Little high-quality evidence is available to guide patients and their families and health care providers on the comparative effectiveness and harms of treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer, especially in men with PSA-detected disease,” the researchers wrote.

Click below for full report:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Urology/ProstateCancer/dh/8217

Today’s Quote:

“The necessity of teaching mankind not to take drugs and medicines is a duty incumbent upon all who know their uncertainty and injurious effects; and the time is not far distant when the drug system will be abandoned.” Charles Armbruster, M. D.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 10th, 2008 at 7:59 am and is filed under Informative Web-Sites, News Items, Prostate Cancer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.