Still, it is natural for patients and their families to be concerned about what the future holds. Sometimes people use statistics to try to figure out the chances of being cured. It is important to remember, however, that statistics are averages based on large numbers of patients. When doctors talk about surviving cancer, they may use the term remission rather than cure. Even though many prostate cancer patients recover completely, doctors use this term because the disease can recur , or reappear after treatment.
Doctors conduct clinical trials to learn about the effectiveness and side effects of new treatments.
In some clinical trials, all patients receive the new treatment. People who take part in these studies have the first chance to benefit from treatments that have shown promise in earlier research. They also make an important contribution to medical science. Many clinical trials of treatments for prostate cancer are under way. For example, researchers are comparing treatment against careful observation of men with early stage prostate cancer.