Ellen Phiddian
Cosmos science journalist
The discussion over whether to call the mildest form of prostate cancer “cancer” has returned, with a new paper suggesting that patients may benefit from avoiding the term.
Prostate cancer is one of the world’s most common cancers. But it’s also one of the most treatable: caught early, patients’ chance of surviving more than 5 years can be 98%.
The lowest grade form of prostate cancer, called GG1, rarely metastasises or causes symptoms. Patients diagnosed with GG1 may have treatment like radiotherapy, but doctors will often recommend just monitoring for changes.
An international group of physicians recently ran a symposium where they discussed whether or not to rename GG1 prostate cancer. They’ve published their opinion in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The researchers discussed the adverse effects of treating this very mild condition, and the psychological burden of a cancer diagnosis on people and families.
But they also pointed out that while GG1 is common in older men, it isn’t normal, and warrants close monitoring following a diagnosis. There is a risk that dropping the C-word will lower patients’ willingness to get checkups.
Overall, the group believes that the nomenclature should be updated.
“The word ‘cancer’ has resonated with patients for millennia as a condition associated with metastasis and mortality,” says principal investigator Dr Matthew Cooperberg, a professor of urology at University of California – San Fransisco, USA.
“We are now finding exceptionally common cellular changes in the prostate that in some cases presage development of aggressive cancer but in most do not.
“We absolutely need to monitor these abnormalities no matter what we label them, but patients should not be burdened with a cancer diagnosis if what we see has zero capacity to spread or to kill.”
