Dr. Stephenson on Patient Preferences on Undergoing Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer

Andrew Stephenson, MD, director of Urologic Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, discusses patient preferences with undergoing active surveillance versus active treatment for their prostate cancer.

Historically, rates of active surveillance in the United States have been substantially lower than in other countries, particularly Europe and even in Canada, Stephenson explains. The earlier notion was that American patients were more risk-adverse and not willing to accept the potential risks of having progressive cancer, relative to patients in Europe or Canada.

However, he adds, it is more critical in the message that clinicians deliver to patients. If their discussions are data driven in how they explain the various treatment options, patients are relieved to hear that they have a low-risk cancer and do not need to undergo aggressive treatment.