Drug could slow prostate cancer

A new medical study suggests a way to help men with early, lowrisk prostate cancer avoid being over-treated for a disease that in most cases will never threaten their lives.

It found that a drug can slow the growth of these tumours in men who opt to be monitored instead of having treatment immediately.

This is the first time that a drug for treating enlarged prostates has also been shown to help treat prostate cancer in a rigorous study. It may persuade more men to choose active surveillance, or “watchful waiting,” instead of rushing to have treatments that can leave them with urinary or sexual problems, doctors say.

However, the results also show that most of these men do very well with no treatment at all.