Roswell Park Offers Prostate Cancer Surveillance Option
The Buffalo-based institute monitors slow-growing prostate cancer through regular checkups to delay invasive treatment.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Cancer
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Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Institute provides an active surveillance program for prostate cancer patients as an alternative to immediate intervention. This approach focuses on monitoring the disease and only beginning treatment if clinical markers show progression.
Why it matters
Active surveillance allows patients with slow-growing, localized cancer to avoid the potential side effects of immediate surgery or radiation. This strategy relies on regular testing to safely manage the condition while maintaining quality of life.
Patients on active surveillance maintain 10-year and 15-year survival rates exceeding 97%. Research indicates that between 40% and 60% of men enrolled in these monitoring programs eventually require treatment.
The players
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Institute
This Buffalo-based medical facility is a major research center that specializes in cancer treatment and clinical trials.
Tim O'Shea
He is a prostate cancer patient who has managed his diagnosis through active surveillance for two years.
The details
Patients like Buffalo resident Tim O'Shea utilize a rigorous schedule of bloodwork, annual MRIs, and periodic biopsies to track disease status. This data-driven monitoring ensures that medical professionals can intervene immediately if clinical markers indicate the cancer is no longer stable.
Timeline
Tim O'Shea received his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024.
O'Shea has remained on active surveillance for two years since 2024.
Health Landscape
The Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Institute active surveillance protocol shifts the standard of care for patients by prioritizing monitoring over immediate intervention. This model marks a departure from traditional clinical approaches that favored aggressive treatment for all localized cancer diagnoses.
Patients may find that active surveillance offers a way to avoid the physical side effects of surgery or radiation for years. It requires a firm commitment to a routine schedule of bloodwork and imaging appointments to ensure long-term health safety.
The takeaway
Prostate cancer is often slow-growing, meaning immediate treatment is not always the necessary first step for every patient. Consulting with specialists about active surveillance may help individuals safely delay or avoid more invasive procedures.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Cancer care and research.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WRGB.
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Would you prefer active monitoring over immediate medical treatment for a non-aggressive health condition?
