Sharing the Decision Slide Set: Slide 10

Talking Points and Text Description of Slide

Slide 10 — Natural History of Prostate Cancer

Talking Points

Let's look at the natural history of prostate cancer to explore why it is a common problem that is sometimes life-threatening.

Prostate cancer is biologically heterogeneous. Its severity ranges from nonfatal, asymptomatic, slowly growing tumors that probably require no treatment, to aggressive, fast-growing tumors that metastasize quickly, often before symptoms are noticed. Other types grow at a modest rate.

One way to look at it is to think of prostate cancer as several different diseases—one type grows fast and soon threatens life, another grows slowly and never becomes a real problem. Other types lie somewhere between these extremes.

Sources: OTA, 1995; Harris and Lohr, 2002; USPSTF, 2002; Stanford et al., 1999; Humphrey et al., 1996.

Text Description of Slide

Facts about the natural history of prostate cancer:

• Prostate cancer is biologically heterogeneous.
• Some prostate cancers grow slowly and never cause symptoms.
• Other prostate cancers are fast growing and metastasize quickly.
• Other types grow at a modest pace.