What’s Next for a 69-Year-Old Man With Prostate Cancer?

AUTHOR:
Ronald N. Rubin, MD—Series Editor

CITATION:
Rubin RN. What’s next for a 69-year-old man with prostate cancer? Consultant. 2020;60(3):82-84. doi:10.25270/con.2020.03.00003

A 69-year-old white man is being evaluated for prostate carcinoma. The process began when he attended a local hospital’s early prostate cancer screening program, in which results of a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test were found to be elevated at 7.5 ng/mL. This led to a prostate biopsy, which revealed a small area of prostate carcinoma with a Gleason score of 6, corresponding to low-grade cancer. All subsequent study results were normal or negative, including a complete blood cell count, a comprehensive metabolic panel, computed tomography evaluation of the pelvis, and bone scanning.

His history is benign, with no major chronic medical diagnoses such as coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, or diabetes. Physical examination findings are within normal limits. He has received somewhat conflicting advice from his internist, urologist, and oncologist, all of whom have been consulted and are involved in his care.