Will prostate-shrinking meds affect large low-grade prostate cancer?

DEAR DR. ROACH >>

I’ve had low-grade prostate cancer for several years and am presently on “active surveillance.”

My PSAs have been high but steady, running around 7.8 to 9.2. I have a greatly enlarged prostate, which I believe contributes to the high PSA numbers.

I would like your opinion regarding finasteride (Proscar), as I am considering taking it.

I see one of its side effects is that it increases the risk of developing a Keith Roach very serious form of prostate cancer.

Since I already have this cancer, am I at an increased risk of mine growing more aggressive? ANSWER >> A 2013 study showed that although finasteride reduced the overall risk of prostate cancer from 15% to 10% in men followed up to 18 years on finasteride, there was a small increase in high-grade, aggressive prostate cancer, from 3% to 3.5%.

However, there was no increased risk of prostate cancer death among treated men.

Several follow-up studies have suggested that the apparent small increase in aggressive prostate cancers reflected an easier ability to find these cancers, since finasteride shrinks prostate tissue, making it easier to both biopsy and read the results.

My view is that the apparent increase in aggressive prostate cancer is unlikely to represent a real danger in taking finasteride.

There is no evidence to suggest that finasteride

There is no evidence to suggest that finasteride would change the behavior of an existing tumor.

would change the behavior of an existing tumor.

Contact Dr. Roach at ToYourGoodHealth@med. cornell.edu.