Shared decision-making strategies for early prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer remains one of the most prevalent and least understood of all human malignancies. Pathologic evidence suggests that neoplastic changes of the prostate epithelium begin early in a man's adult life, but do not become clinically evident or relevant until decades later. The natural history of this enigmatic disease is heterogeneous, ranging from a benign and indolent course to one that rapidly progresses, causing significant morbidity and mortality. The divergent aspects of prostate cancer are underscored by vast differences in incidence and mortality statistics, causing consternation among clinicians and patients regarding the relative value of early detection, screening, and treatment strategies. Competing risks and perceived benefits of proposed treatment options including surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal deprivation, watchful waiting, and newer technologies are complex. Given these uncertainties, how should patients integrate these data and what role must physicians play in the process? Here we present a summary of shared decision making for men with localized prostate cancer. We approach this task by using a clinical case scenario to discuss issues relating to incidence and mortality trends, uncertainty regarding natural history, biopsy techniques and concerns, relevant tumor and clinical data, patient information gathering through Web-based resources, as well as support and advocacy groups, outcomes implications, and methods patients use to approach treatment decisions. We present a unified platform for shared decision-making strategies regarding prostate cancer in clinical practice.