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Studies show that the prognosis for low-risk prostate cancer is excellent even without treatment; hence, active surveillance is the primary option for these patients. In active surveillance, the patient is monitored without immediately implementing surgery or radiotherapy, which eliminates the adverse effects of these treatments. If there are indications during surveillance that the cancer has developed into a form that requires treatment, meaning medium or high-risk cancer, active treatment is initiated (surgery or radiotherapy).
In active surveillance, the PSA level is measured at three-month intervals during the first year of surveillance, and the patient visits a physician every six months. A year after the diagnosis, needle samples are taken again from the prostate. An MRI scan of the prostate is usually performed before samples are taken again. Further monitoring is agreed on at an appointment with a urologist.