Prostate cancer surgery 'has little or no benefit' in extending life of patients

• The study compared surgically removing prostate gland with 'watchful waiting'
• Some experts now questioning whether disease should even be called cancer

By Pamela Owen

PUBLISHED: 08:26 GMT, 28 April 2012 | UPDATED: 08:26 GMT, 28 April 2012

New research into prostate cancer has revealed that surgery has little or no benefit in extending the life of a patient.

The study, which has not yet been published, compared surgically removing the prostate gland with 'watchful waiting' and found there was little difference between the two.

Experts are believed to be 'shaken' by the news because thousands of men could have gone through painful and unnecessary surgery

One expert, who did not want to be named, told the Independent newspaper: 'The only rational response to these results is, when presented with a patient with prostate cancer, to do nothing.'
FULL STORY: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2136512/Prostate-cancer-s...