Delaying Prostate Surgery Could Increase Risk for Recurrence

As reported in Renal & Urology News, men in the study who waited more than 90 days between their biopsy and surgery had a significantly increased risk of having biochemical recurrence, compared to men who had their surgery within 90 days of having their biopsy.

Patients diagnosed with Gleason 3+4 prostate cancer at biopsy who waited longer than 90 days to have surgery were also more likely to have their cancer upgraded to a more aggressive Gleason grade at the time of their surgery. Waiting longer than 90 days to have surgery seemingly allowed the cancer enough time to become more aggressive.

Similarly, patients diagnosed with aggressive 8-10 Gleason grade cancer at biopsy were more likely to have their cancer upgraded if they waited more than 60 days to have surgery.

The study was conducted by researchers in France and included 513 men who had a radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. The findings were presented at the 33rd European Association of Urology congress in Cophenhagen, Denmark, in March 2018.