Life Expectancy as It Relates to the Treatment of Urologic Cancers
Thomas W. Jarrett, MD, discusses the impact of life expectancy on urologic cancer treatment and management in the United States. He begins by highlighting outdated life expectancy models and the importance of assessing life expectancy prior to exploring treatment options.
Dr. Jarrett then discusses the traditional methods of assessing life expectancy and their failure to account for patient comorbidities. He lists the most significant comorbidities which impact life expectancy according to their hazard score.
Dr. Jarrett then addresses overall trends in life expectancy in the United States. He notes that life expectancy sharply decreased during COVID-19 and that the United States has yet to recover compared to European life expectancy trends.
Dr. Jarrett concludes by illustrating the influence of perceived life expectancy on urologic cancer management and outcomes. He discusses the impact of life expectancy on treatment options for urothelial cancer, testicular cancer, renal cancer, and prostate cancer.
Read More