For international retirees, expats, and domestic patients in Da Nang and Hoi An diagnosed with low-grade localized prostate cancer, hearing the word “cancer” understandably triggers an impulse to remove the tumor immediately. However, 15-year outcomes from the landmark ProtecT Trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine confirm that immediate radical surgery or radiation for low-risk ISUP Grade 1 disease does not improve survival compared to Active Monitoring, while exposing patients to unnecessary risks of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction [2].

1. Active Surveillance vs. Watchful Waiting: A Critical Clinical Distinction

A common misconception among patients is that Active Surveillance means “doing nothing.” In contemporary urological oncology, Active Surveillance is a proactive, curative-intent monitoring program that differs fundamentally from palliative Watchful Waiting [1, 3]:

2. Five Strict Eligibility Criteria for Active Surveillance in Da Nang

Before enrolling a patient into our Active Surveillance registry at Family Hospital Da Nang and 162 Te Hanh Clinic, Dr. Dang Phuoc Dat, MD, Specialist Level I confirms all five EAU 2026 safety criteria [1, 3]:

• ISUP Grade Group 1 (Gleason Score 3+3=6): Confirmed via high-precision transperineal MRI-targeted + systematic biopsy. Selected favorable intermediate-risk patients (ISUP Grade 2 with < 10% pattern 4, PSA < 10 ng/mL, and zero cribriform/intraductal histology) may also be considered after multidisciplinary review.
• Baseline Total PSA < 10.0 ng/mL: Combined with a favorable Free/Total PSA ratio.
• PSA Density (PSAD) < 0.15 ng/mL/cm³: PSAD is one of the strongest independent predictors of harboring unsampled higher-grade disease [1].
• Clinical Stage cT1c or cT2a: Organ-confined tumor with no extracapsular extension or seminal vesicle invasion on 3.0T mpMRI.
• Concordant Baseline 3.0T mpMRI: Absence of extensive anterior or apical PI-RADS 5 lesions discordant with Grade 1 pathology.

3. 4-Column Comparison: EAU 2026 Active Surveillance Monitoring Calendar

Our structured follow-up protocol in Da Nang integrates serum biomarker kinetics with standardized PRECISE mpMRI scoring to minimize unnecessary repeat biopsies while ensuring zero missed progression [1, 3, 4]:

4. Red Flag Triggers to Switch from Active Surveillance to Curative Therapy

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question 1: Is it truly safe to monitor Gleason 6 (ISUP Grade 1) prostate cancer without immediate surgery?

Yes. Pure ISUP Grade Group 1 (Gleason 3+3=6) prostate adenocarcinoma has virtually zero metastatic potential while in the Grade 1 state. In the 15-year ProtecT study, prostate cancer-specific mortality was identical (~97%–99% survival) across Active Monitoring, Radical Prostatectomy, and Radiotherapy, while men on Active Surveillance avoided surgical incontinence and erectile loss [2].

Question 2: Can expats living in Da Nang or Hoi An transfer their Active Surveillance care from abroad?

Yes. International patients diagnosed in the US, Australia, Europe, or Singapore frequently continue their quarterly PSA kinetics and annual 3.0T mpMRI surveillance in Da Nang with Dr. Dang Phuoc Dat. Simply bring your prior biopsy pathology report and baseline MRI files to your initial consultation.

Question 3: Does a rising PSA alone mean I must immediately undergo prostate cancer surgery?

No. Both the EAU 2026 and AUA guidelines explicitly state that PSA kinetics alone (such as a rising PSA due to coexisting BPH or subclinical prostatitis) should not trigger immediate radical surgery without first performing an updated 3.0T mpMRI and confirmatory transperineal biopsy to prove histological upgrading [1, 3].

6. Scientific References (Vancouver Style)

1. Cornford P, Tilki D, van den Bergh RCN, Briers E, Eberli D, De Meerleer G, et al. EAU-EANM-ESTRO-ESUR-ISUP-SIOG Guidelines on Prostate Cancer 2026. Arnhem: European Association of Urology; 2026.
2. Hamdy FC, Donovan JL, Lane JA, Metcalfe C, Davis M, Turner EL, et al. Fifteen-Year Outcomes after Monitoring, Surgery, or Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer (ProtecT Trial). N Engl J Med. 2023;388(17):1547-58.
3. Eastham JA, Auffenberg GB, Barocas DA, Chou R, Crispino T, Davis JW, et al. Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: AUA/ASTRO Guideline. J Urol. 2022;208(1):10-18.
4. Moore CM, Giganti F, Albertsen P, Allen C, Bangma C, Briganti A, et al. Reporting Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Men on Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer: The PRECISE Recommendations. Eur Urol. 2017;71(4):648-55.

Medical Disclaimer: This clinical guide is authored and reviewed by Dr. Dang Phuoc Dat, MD, Specialist Level I for patient education and does not substitute for an in-person uro-oncological consultation and biopsy pathology review.