Prostate Cancer: Is 'Watch and Wait' a Good Idea?

Q. : My husband has been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer (confined to the prostate gland) and his doctors recommend a "watch and wait" approach. I say get it out of there. What's the smart move?
-- Carrie Waver, San Diego

A. To answer this question really well, we'd need to know your husband's age and how healthy he is overall. Still, this should help you two.

Treating early-stage prostate cancer isn't like correcting a bad hairdo. You don't automatically snip and cut to fix it. What's called watch and wait (or active surveillance) is often smart because early-stage prostate cancer is usually small and slow-growing. For men over 70 or who have high-risk medical problems, the cancer often won't progress fast enough to shorten their life.

If your husband’s younger than 70, it may still be smart to put off treatment. Learn how age affects prostate cancer risk. Surgery and radiation are no picnic; neither are their possible side effects, including leaking urine (up to 25% of guys do) and sexual problems.This doesn't mean your spouse will be sitting around staring at his prostate. His doctors will want to see him often, usually for:

• A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test every 6 months and a digital rectal exam every 12 months. Discover the accuracy of the PSA test.
• A prostate biopsy in 6 to 18 months from time of diagnosis, and as needed thereafter.

It's also vital for him to exercise regularly, destress with at least 10 minutes a day of meditation or yoga, and eat a healthy diet by:

• Adding lots more fruits and vegetables to his plate
• Making sure all grains are 100% whole grains
• Nixing foods with added sugars or syrups
• Saying no (and we mean NO) to foods with saturated fat: red meat, poultry skin, all dairy that isn't fat-free, and anything with palm or coconut oils
• Staying clear of trans fats

We're adamant about this because studies show all of the above hold prostate and other cancers at bay. Discover why tomato-based foods are also great cancer fighters.

If any signs of cancer activity develop, his options include surgery -- frequently first choice for younger men, when the cancer likely hasn't spread. Radiation is often a good choice for older guys who have additional health issues. Brachytherapy (inserting tiny radioactive "seeds" in the prostate) is for men of all ages with localized prostate cancer. There are more, but we're going to keep this blog short.

Our bottom line: Get a second opinion. It changes treatment (and even the diagnosis) about a third of the time. If another doc confirms this approach, go with it. If not, get a third opinion. And keep your eye on your hubby with a bit of active surveillance yourself.

Should you get a PSA test? Take the RealAge Prostate Cancer Screening for personalized advice.