Skip over navigation
The Hospital
Research
Support Us
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Home
Français
Directions & Maps
Contact Us
About Us
Vision and Strategic Directions
Board Chair and CEO Message
Leadership Team
Annual Reports
Facilities
Research Data Management
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Wellness
Our Research
Priorities, Programs and Diseases
Researcher Profiles
National Research Networks
Scientific Publications
Research Awards
Technology Transfer
Industry Sponsored Research
Responsible Innovation
For Students & Fellows
News & Events
Newsroom
Seminars & Events
Career Opportunities
For Patients
News & Events
Home
>
News & Events
>
Newsroom
Bookmark or Share
Display Options
Display Options
+
Increase
/
-
Decrease
font size
High contrast version
Printer-friendly version
Newsroom
Seminars & Events
Newsroom
To treat, or not to treat? How one man decided to keep his prostate cancer
June 29, 2016
Stephen Wilson of Iroquois, Ontario avoided unnecessary treatments and side-effects by opting for regular monitoring of his slow-growing prostate cancer.
Dairy plant manager Stephen Wilson faced a tough choice. In December 2012, he had just been diagnosed with a slow-growing prostate cancer that posed little risk to his health. His oncologist in Cornwall recommended monitoring and regular tests, but a U.S. doctor told him he needed surgery right away.
So Wilson paid a visit to Dr. Rodney Breau at The Ottawa Hospital to explore using the da Vinci Surgical System to remove the cancer.
Dr. Breau did a second biopsy of Wilson’s prostate and found no additional cancer cells. The doctor informed Wilson about potential side-effects from treatment, including urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction and bowel problems. Given that the cancer was slow growing, Dr. Breau recommended against treatment and for regular monitoring and testing, also known as active surveillance.
“He told me ‘If you were my father, I would recommend surveillance,’” said Wilson.
Between the reassuring biopsy and Dr. Breau’s explanation of his options, Wilson chose active surveillance.
“Low-grade prostate cancer can grow very slowly, and therefore many patients likely don’t need treatment at all,” said Dr. Breau, a prostate cancer surgeon and epidemiologist at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. “Some men can go for years, or maybe their entire lives, without the cancer spreading.”
Dr. Breau recently published a
study
on active surveillance at The Ottawa Hospital, which found that the number of patients choosing this option increased dramatically from 32 percent to 68 percent between 2008 and 2013.
Active surveillance also seems to be gaining popularity south of the border. According to a recent front-page article in the
The New York Times
, nearly half of men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer in the United States are now choosing the technique over surgery and radiation.
Now retired, 56-year-old Wilson enjoys working on his hobby farm with his wife, three horses, three cats and a dog. He has come to terms with the cancer in his body.
“You have to live with the notion that it’s there,” said Wilson. “But I have a background in science which allowed me do that without any problems. Now it’s been three years and I’m good. Active surveillance has been the right choice for me.”
The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca
For further information, please contact
Amelia Buchanan
Senior Communication Specialist
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687
Cell: 613-297-8315
ambuchanan@ohri.ca
Tags:
Cancer
,
Prostate cancer