When Advanced Prostate Cancer Is A Consequence Of Delay From Watchful Waiting Recommendation
The PSA is a blood test used by doctors to screen male patients who do not exhibit any symptoms for prostate cancer. An abnormally high or rapidly rising PSA may indicate that the man may have prostate cancer. These types of results therefore normally trigger the need for further testing, like a biopsy, to see if the man in fact has cancer.
There are, however, 2 principal issues with a biopsy. First a biopsy checks just a portion of the prostate. Therefore the a biopsy could produce a false negative , missing the cancer. Second, biopsies pose dangers, such as the possibility of infection and the threat of substantial bleeding.
Concern about these two issues appears to motivate some physicians to advise that men who have an elevated PSA follow a program of “watchful waiting.” This is a method by which the physician periodically checks the patient’s high PSA for months or years. Throughout this time a number of physicians suggest that the man try non cancer related therapies, for example, for infection, under the theory that if the PSA is elevatedhigh for a reason besides prostate cancer such treatments might return the PSA back to normal levels.
The difficulty arises in that the physician might too much time go by without advising that the patient undergo a biopsy. The more time that passes while the PSA increases the likelihood increases that the rising levels are due to prostate cancer, as does the likelihood that the cancer will progress beyond the prostate gland resulting in a diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer. In the event that a physician, by advocating that the male patient delay before doing diagnostic testing, leads to a scenario in which the cancer spreads and gets to metastasis, a cancer lawyer can help you decide if you may be able to successfully pursue medical malpractice lawsuit against that physician.
When the cancer is not diagnosed until the late stages, after it has progressed beyond the prostate, there is at the present time no treatment that can eliminate the cancer. How many of the men who will pass away this year from advanced prostate cancer could have survived if their physician had tested them and had not waited to advise a biopsy after an abnormal screening test result?
The preceeding is merely basic information that is commonly obtainable and is meant for basic educational purposes only. The above is not medical advice. Confer with with a physician if you have any health related problems and prior to accepting any medical advice. The above is also not legal advice. Contact a lawyer regarding any possible legal issues.