when someone gets it cancer diagnosisthe first reaction is usually to seek treatment as soon as possible, but depending on the type of disease, your doctor may recommend a more conservative approach.
For certain cancers, immediate or aggressive treatment may do more harm than good, according to several researchers. medical professional.
For example, treating slow-growing tumors with surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy can have serious side effects without prolonging survival.
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“The fact that we don’t die from so many cancers doesn’t justify not knowing, because there’s still plenty of room for ‘watchful waiting’ and interventions that may improve quality of life, even if they don’t prolong life,” Dr. Mark Siegel, FOX News senior medical analyst, told FOX News Digital.
This is especially true when targeting cancer treatment Doctors say they are more individualized and less likely to cause serious side effects.
“The fact that cancer is occurring earlier is a justification for increased testing, not the other way around,” Siegel added. “Information is power. What we do with that information is based on clinical judgment and medical skill.”
Below are some types of cancer that may not require treatment, according to research and doctor guidance.
While there are several types, prostate cancer Dr. Sanoj Punen, a urologic oncologist at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System, said some patients should be treated right away, but for others, “watchful waiting” is appropriate.
“When it comes to prostate cancer, for most low-risk cancers (Gleason 6 or Grade Group 1), we recommend early observation and surveillance rather than immediate treatment,” he told FOX News Digital.
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The Gleason score is a grading system that ranks prostate cancer cells in terms of how abnormal they are, with 6 being the lowest grade and 10 being the highest grade (barely similar to normal cells).
“For high-grade tumors, such as Gleason 8, 9, or 10, we recommend treatment to prevent the risk of metastasis because they are thought to be more aggressive,” said Punen, vice chair of research and professor at UHealth’s Desai Sethi Institute of Urology. “For low-risk tumors, we recommend observation only, as the risk is considered to be minimal.”
“But ultimately, we cannot be sure, so our observational approach cancer condition A PSA, MRI, and occasional biopsy are done to ensure the tumor is not progressing. ”
DCIS, also known as stage 0 breast cancer, is a noninvasive disease characterized by abnormal cells in the lining of the breast. breast milk tube. “In situ” is a Latin word meaning “in its original place” and indicates that the cancer has not spread outside the breast ducts.
For this very early stage precancerous breast condition, research has shown that it may be wiser to monitor it carefully rather than immediately surgery.
A 2024 study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that active monitoring for DCIS resulted in a similar quality of life. mental health Observe symptom progression over 2 years compared to standard surgical approach.
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“These results suggest that, in the short term, active monitoring is a reasonable approach to the management of low-risk DCIS,” the lead researchers said in a press release. “If long-term follow-up supports the safety of active management in terms of cancer outcomes, this approach could be considered as an option for women with this disease.”
“But it’s also important to understand how women feel when living with this ‘watch and wait’ approach and how it impacts their overall quality of life.”
Other studies suggest that Women with low-risk DCIS Although the incidence of invasive cancer was not high after 2 years of active monitoring, each patient should discuss their risk level with their oncologist.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that starts in the lymphatic system, which includes the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and other tissues.
According to the American Cancer Society, indolent lymphoma is a lymphoma that “grows and spreads slowly.”
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The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends watchful waiting for asymptomatic, slow-growing follicular lymphoma as a means to avoid the toxicity of malignancy. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy Until absolutely necessary.
The Lymphoma Research Foundation acknowledges that doctors recommend “active surveillance” for some patients with slow-growing lymphoma.
“This approach may be initiated after initial diagnosis or after relapse, depending on the situation,” the foundation says on its website. “If a patient begins to develop lymphoma-related symptoms or if there are signs that the disease is progressing, aggressive treatment is initiated.”
For aggressive (rapidly growing) lymphoma, treatment must begin immediately.
One of the most common adult leukemias, chronic lymphocytic leukemia According to the American Cancer Society, (CLL) begins in white blood cells (lymphocytes) in the bone marrow and then spreads to the bloodstream.
CLL tends to grow slowly, and many patients do not experience symptoms for years. Eventually, cancer cells can spread to the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen.
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some research showed that early treatment of CLL did not improve survival compared with observation, and the benefits may not outweigh the risks.
In a 2023 study presented at the European Society of Hematology 2023 Congress in Frankfurt, Germany, researchers found that early treatment did not improve overall survival compared to placebo in patients with early-stage asymptomatic CLL.
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When presenting the results of this study, researcher Petra Langerbins, MD, said, “I think it’s reasonable to conclude that ‘watchful waiting’ will continue to be the standard treatment, even in the era of molecularly targeted drugs.”
Most patients with endometrial cancer have Surgery is the first treatmentAccording to the American Cancer Society, this involves removing the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
However, in certain patients with less aggressive cancers, such as older people, “frail” people, and people with serious health problems, doctors may recommend postponing surgery, which may pose a higher risk.
If the patient has complications or wishes to receive treatment maintain fertilityaccording to the ACS, hormonal therapy may be used instead of surgery.
“Normally, cancers that are less aggressive, have a smaller volume, and are slower growing are also considered,” said the source cited above.
For kidney cancer with small tumors (≤3 cm) or benign lesions, your doctor may recommend observation instead of kidney cancer. undergoing surgery For removal.
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The American Urological Association confirms that active surveillance is an option for some small kidney masses (localized tumors).
Delaying treatment is especially recommended for older patients and those with “significant comorbidities,” according to the study.
The UAU states in its guidance that “shared decision-making regarding active surveillance should consider the risks/competing mortality of the intervention and the potential oncological benefit of the intervention.”
Data from the Delayed Intervention and Surveillance for Small Renal Masses (DISSRM) registry showed that cancer-specific survival rates for patients who received active surveillance were greater than 99% and virtually the same as those who received immediate treatment.
The most common type of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) thyroid cancersmall tumors smaller than 1 centimeter (10 mm), called microcarcinomas, may not require treatment.
Studies have found that when active surveillance was used for 10 to 20 years, less than 10% experienced significant growth, only 5% developed lymph node metastases, and no deaths from thyroid cancer.
American Thyroid Association guidelines officially recommend active surveillance for very low-risk microcarcinomas.
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Many patients with low-risk tumors can safely delay treatment, but this is not true for all cancers or for all patients.
The behavior of cancer is personal health factors Patients should consult their physician to determine the most appropriate course of treatment based on their individual risk level.
