{
  "id": 779202,
  "title": "For early prostate cancer, 'active surveillance' is now the number 1 choice",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/for-early-prostate-cancer-active-surveillance-is-now-the-number-1",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-13T15:00:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-early-prostate-cancer-surveillance-choice.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For over three decades, UC San Francisco has pioneered the concept of active surveillance for patients with low-risk prostate cancer. A recent study reveals that this approach has become increasingly popular among veterans. In 2024, 93% of veterans diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer opted for active surveillance, compared to just 27% in 2005. Similarly, the rate of active surveillance for veterans with favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer rose to 61% in 2024 from 14% in 2005. This shift is attributed to the monitoring of tumors through regular blood tests for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), less frequent rectal exams, MRI scans, and biopsies. If the cancer shows signs of growth, treatment options such as surgery or radiation are considered.\n\nThe study, published in JAMA, was conducted by UCSF researchers and the San Francisco VA Health Care System, who followed more than 73,000 veterans enrolled in the VA system. Active surveillance involves regular monitoring of the disease without immediate treatment, which has been shown to have similar survival outcomes to treatment, but with lower risks of complications like urinary incontinence, bowel problems, or erectile dysfunction.\n\nUCSF's Matthew Cooperberg, M.D., M.P.H., the study's senior author, notes that studies have demonstrated comparable survival outcomes between surveillance and treatment, with the added benefit of reduced risks associated with treatment. He emphasizes that many experts now argue against even referring to these cancers as such, as they are often slow-growing and may not require treatment.\n\nThe study highlights the role of the VA system in promoting active surveillance, pointing to its integrated health care system's robust tracking of quality of care and provision of feedback to physicians. This facilitates long-term continuity of patient care. The study was part of the PROFOUND-VET initiative, a research effort within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs aimed at developing cancer guidelines.",
  "summary": "Three decades after UC San Francisco pioneered \"active surveillance\" for patients with low-risk prostate cancer, a new study has found that the vast majority of veterans with the diagnosis pursued this option instead of treatment.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}