Active surveillance as a treatment option for prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the evolution of active surveillance (AS) as a treatment option for men with prostate cancer, the recommended optimum monitoring protocols, and the experience of men undergoing AS.


METHODS
CINAHL and PubMed; limited to the years 2001-2011.


CONCLUSIONS
The widespread adoption of prostate-specific antigen screening has led to an increase in the numbers of men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer. AS has emerged as a viable treatment option for some of these men. Such surveillance involves the careful monitoring for signs of cancer progression and selected delayed curative therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The nurse has an important role in supporting men on the AS journey.
Catherine McAuley School of Nursing & Midwifery, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, University College Cork, Ireland.
Josephine
J
Hegarty
Donald E
DE
Bailey
D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*
D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen