If Stage 4 Prostate Cancer Is A Consequence Of Delay From Watchful Waiting Recommendation

The PSA is a blood test administered by physicians to test male patients who do not exhibit any symptoms for prostate cancer.  A high or rapidly rising PSA suggests that the man may have prostate cancer.  These types of findings therefore typically lead to further testing, like a biopsy, to find out if the patient actually has cancer. 

There are, however, two main problems with a biopsy.  First a biopsy samples only a part of the prostate.  It it may happen that the a biopsy may yield a false negative , missing the cancer.  Second, biopsies pose dangers, including the possibility of infection and the chance of severe bleeding. 

Because of these 2 factors a number of doctors to advise that men who have an elevated PSA pursue a program of “watchful waiting.”  This is an approach by which the physician periodically monitors the individual’s high PSA over a period of months or even years.  During this time a number of physicians advise that the man try non cancer related therapies, for example, for infection, based on the possibility that should the PSA is elevatedhigh because of an underlying reason besides prostate cancer such treatments might get the PSA back to normal levels. 

The problem is that the  doctor could too much time pass without recommending a biopsy.  The more time that passes while the PSA increases the probability increases that the rising levels result from prostate cancer, as does the chance that the cancer has spread beyond the gland leading to a diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer.   In the event that a physician, by suggesting that the man delay instead of immediately doing diagnostic testing, leads to a situation in which the cancer progresses and achieves metastasis, a cancer lawyer can help you determine if you may have a medical negligence claim against that doctor.

If the cancer is not detected until the advanced stages, after it has grown outside the prostate, there is at the current time no known cure.  Thus one needs to ask: How many of the men who will pass away this year from advanced prostate cancer would not need to die if only their doctor had screened them as opposed to holding off on recommending?

The preceeding is only basic information that is readily available and is meant for elementary educational purposes only.  The above does not constitute medical advice.  Consult with a physician if you have any health related problems and prior to accepting any medical advice.  In addition, the above is also not legal advice.  Consult with an attorney regarding any possible legal concerns.