Is active surveillance safe for prostate cancer?
Whether you and your physician have been actively monitoring your prostate cancer risk for weeks or months, you could consider prostate cancer marker tests to provide you with more information.
While it might feel like you’re just sitting on the sidelines right now, these tissue-based tests can be performed on the prostate biopsy you previously had and give you peace of mind or inform future decisions.
PCM Tests During Active Surveillance
PCM tests during active surveillance can provide you with reassurance or help you and your healthcare provider move toward treatment options.
Decipher Biopsy
This tissue-based genomic test evaluates tumor aggressiveness and combines it with a man’s risk of metastasis and clinically validated prostate cancer-specific mortality risk.
Prolaris
This tissue-based PCM test assesses the prostate cancer tumor biology and aggressiveness. This test can be conducted with the same tissue collected during a prostate cancer biopsy.
Oncotype DX GPS
This tissue-based test looks for the activation of 17 specific genes associated with prostate cancer, providing insights for men with organ-confined prostate cancer.
If you have not had a biopsy and are in the watchful waiting stage based on your initial PSA, DRE, or other tests, consider the PCMs and genetic tests highlighted in Waypoint 1 of the prostate cancer journey.
Waypoint 3 FAQs
As you are in the active surveillance phase of monitoring your prostate cancer, you may have questions about PCMs, genetic testing, and more. Below is an initial list of frequently asked questions. You can also submit your question.
If you are in the active surveillance stage and wondering about getting more insights into your prostate cancer, these tissue-based tests can be performed on the prostate biopsy you previously had. Results can give you peace of mind or inform your next move.
If you have not had a biopsy and are in the watchful waiting stage based on your initial PSA, DRE, or other tests, consider the PCMs and genetic tests highlighted in Waypoint 1 of the prostate cancer journey.
Prostate cancer biomarkers (PCMs) are molecules found in blood, tissue, or body fluids. PCMs are revolutionary new, non-invasive diagnostic tests that may help your healthcare provider decide if your prostate cancer is in fact low risk, if something more aggressive may be lurking in your prostate, or if there are hot spots in the prostate that may need to be re-evaluated upon biopsy. PCMs also can help you and your healthcare provider determine the most appropriate treatment for your cancer.
There are many factors that will make one prostate cancer marker test better suited for individual cases. Many times, individuals who have never had a biopsy or had low to intermediate grade prostate cancer (Gleason 3+3=6 or 3+4=7) diagnosed on a biopsy are well suited for blood or urine prostate cancer markers, whereas individuals who have persistently negative biopsies or a biopsy of intermediate to high grade cancer may benefit from tissue prostate cancer markers. Use this interactive questionnaire to see what tests may be right for you. Once you’ve completed the questionnaire, discuss the results with your healthcare provider. Also be sure to check out our Patient Journey section that may help you decide which test is right for you.