January 2020

Impressive results of the COMPARE study have recently been published in The Journal of Urology. Prostate cancer patients of all risk groups were willing to trade-off cancer-specific survival for improved quality of life.

Evaluating the Trade-offs Men with Localised Prostate Cancer Make Between the Risks and Benefits of Treatments: The COMPARE Study 
Verity Watson at al. J Urol., 2020 Jan

Men with low-intermediate risk prostate cancer were willing to trade:

• 7% absolute decrease in survival in exchange to have active surveillance over definitive therapy.

High-risk prostate cancer patients were willing to trade:

• 3.10% survival for one-month earlier return to normal activities
• 1.04% survival for 1% improvement in urinary function
• 0.41% survival for 1% improvement in sexual function.

Read more in European Urology:
https://www.auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/JU.0000000000000754

Fortunately, patients suitable for focal therapy almost certainly do not need to make that trade.