Prostate cancer patients more likely to regret surgery
A new Australian radiation oncology study shows prostate cancer patients are more likely to regret choosing surgery than they are radiation therapy. The study’s results are particularly important given the fact that both radiation therapy and surgery deliver equal results, yet radiation therapy (often a more cost-effective option), is under-used in prostate cancer treatment.
The results of the study will be presented by lead researcher A/Prof. Thomas Shakespeare at the 67th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) held on the Gold Coast today.
The study was conducted across a number of NSW-based cancer institutions and hospitals and surveyed patients who had undergone prostate surgery, but then required post-operative radiation therapy in order to cure the patients. It reviewed their long terms results (more than 5 years following radiation therapy) and assessed whether patients regretted their treatment.
Results showed patients rarely regretted undergoing radiation therapy (4.2%), compared to over 1 in 6 (16.9%) who regretted receiving surgery (radical prostatectomy). This result contradicts the common misconception of surgeons that side-effects associated with radiation therapy are not worth the risk to the patient. In fact it was the side-effects associated with surgery that caused the most regret.
Radiation therapy, which targets cancer cells using high energy focused x-ray beams, is an alternative to surgery for prostate cancer patients. The cure rates, survival, and quality of life after radiation therapy are equal to that of surgery.
For more information on the The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists 67th Annual Scientific Meeting or to review the scientific program visit http://www.ranzcr2016.com/
