Breakthrough—New gene screen identifies aggressive prostate cancer

Gene screens will eventually replace Gleason scores

Your Gleason score can tell you if your prostate is cancerous, but it cannot always tell you how aggressive that cancer is -- in other words, if it's likely to be lethal.  Even patients with low Gleason scores of 5 or 6 can have a dangerous and aggressive form of cancer.

When patients have low Gleason scores, doctors may suggest watchful waiting, but many still recommend some form of aggressive treatment -- such as radiation or surgery, which can result in "collateral damage" (varying degrees of incontinence and impotence) from the therapy.