The notion that androgen deprivation therapy will hold prostate cancer at bay while you die of something else is not proving to be entirely true.

Our study indicates that cancer remains an important contributor to overall mortality in these men, particularly those with high Gleason score and high serum PSA. These data will be useful for men with localized prostate cancer choosing between aggressive treatments such as surgery or radiation, observation and androgen deprivation therapy.

Studies suggest that more needs to be known about the risks and benefits of this treatment before we recommend it to patients with localized disease.