Other concerns you and your
doctor may talk about

1. Your age — older or younger

• Watchful waiting may well be the treatment of choice for older men. This is even more so for older men with other medical problems. The older you are, the less likely prostate cancer will cause problems in your lifetime.
• But a man with more than 10 years to live may live long enough to develop problems with his prostate cancer.

2. Your general health — in good health or not

• Other health problems may shorten your life enough that prostate cancer may never bother you.

3. Your own values and feelings — the things that mean the most to you

• Some men want active treatment, even if they seem to have a slow growing tumor.

  - They want the cancer treated no matter what.

• Other men want to wait and watch. They are more concerned that active treatment may mean:

  - They may have trouble controlling their urine or their bowels.
  - They may have trouble having an erection.

• Only you know what will make you feel that you have made the best decision.

4. If you are African American

• African American men are often diagnosed at a younger age than white men and with more advanced prostate cancer. However, treatment may be equally successful for both groups if given the same care.