Men diagnosed with nonmetastatic low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer up to six times more likely to die of other causes
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, July 14, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer receiving guideline-concordant care have a much higher risk for death from causes other than prostate cancer, according to a study published online July 10 in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Pietro Scilipoti, M.D. from Uppsala University in Sweden, and colleagues followed men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer, registered in the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden from 2000 to 2020, who received primary treatment according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines until Dec. 31, 2022. The risk for mortality from prostate cancer and other causes was estimated up to 30 years according to risk category and life expectancy.
Overall, 62,839 men received primary treatment according to the NCCN Guidelines. The researchers found that per risk category, the simulated 15-year prostate cancer mortality ranged from 5.5 to 22 percent in men with low-risk and very high-risk cancer, respectively. Simulated 30-year prostate cancer mortality varied from 12 to 30 percent in men with low-risk and very high-risk cancer, respectively, while death from other causes varied from 77 to 63 percent.
“Our data support adherence to guideline recommendations for treatment of prostate cancer,” Scilipoti said in a statement. “If guideline-recommended treatment is used, most people with prostate cancer will live for many years after diagnosis. That includes active surveillance as an excellent treatment strategy for appropriately selected people.”
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