> It appears that for most men, the correct response to the diagnosis is to watch and do nothing. You are, I think, younger than most at diagnosis, so that may change the recommendation. But my understanding is that, in general, a prostate cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence.
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>Tamar, it largely depends on whether it has spread to distant lymph nodes, bones, or other organs. I don't think any of us (except John Ryan?) has a medical degree, but my understanding is that so long as it hasn't spread to distant areas, the survival rate is high. I'll stand correct if I'm wrong.

What ISTR is that it's not just about whether it has already spread (which is bad with any cancer), but also the virulence of the particular cancer. As Thomas said, in many cases, with prostate cancer, it grows so slowly that a man is far more likely to die of something else first. But there are some cases where the cancer is more aggressive and treatment sooner is appropriate.

And no, I haven't gone to med school, but for whatever reasons, find medical science and medical history interesting and read rather more about them than about other areas of science.

Tamar