Active Surveillance Offers Prostate Cancer Treatment Path

Patients with prostate cancer in Buffalo may delay treatment while maintaining long-term survival rates via active monitoring.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Cancer

Active Surveillance Offers Prostate Cancer Treatment Path

Live Poll

Would you prefer active monitoring over immediate medical treatment for a non-aggressive health condition?

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Institute in Buffalo offers active surveillance as a management strategy for certain prostate cancers. This approach allows patients to monitor disease progression and delay treatment unless clinical markers indicate it is necessary.

Why it matters

Active surveillance is an option because some prostate cancers are slow-growing and unlikely to spread. This strategy allows patients to potentially avoid the side effects of immediate surgery or radiation while maintaining outcomes similar to those who treat their cancer right away.

Clinical data indicates that patients on active surveillance achieve 10-year and 15-year survival rates exceeding 97%. It remains unknown which specific patients within the 40% to 60% cohort will eventually require a transition to active treatment.

The players

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Institute

A Buffalo-based cancer research and treatment center that provides specialized care for various malignancies, including prostate cancer.

Tim O'Shea

A patient who has managed his prostate cancer through active surveillance since 2024.

The details

Active surveillance relies on regular bloodwork, imaging, and biopsies to closely monitor the state of the cancer. By tracking clinical markers, physicians can determine if the cancer's status changes over time. Treatment is only initiated if the gathered data indicates that the condition is no longer slow-growing or contained, allowing patients to avoid unnecessary interventions if the disease remains stable.

Tim O'Shea received his initial prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024.
O'Shea has remained on active surveillance for two years since his diagnosis.

Health Landscape

Active surveillance at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Institute represents a shift toward de-escalating care for indolent, low-risk prostate cancers. This approach aligns with broader trends in oncology aimed at reducing treatment-related morbidity while maintaining long-term survival.

If you are managing a prostate cancer diagnosis, it is worth discussing with your doctor whether active surveillance is a suitable option for your specific risk profile. Patients in this program typically commit to a structured routine of bi-annual appointments, bloodwork, and annual MRIs.

The takeaway

Active surveillance is a viable path for many men that avoids immediate intervention without compromising long-term survival. If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, talk to your physician about whether your specific cancer is a candidate for monitoring rather than immediate treatment.