More older men get prostate radiation when doctors own the equipment

(Reuters Health) – Elderly men with prostate cancer are more likely to be treated with radiation when their doctors own radiation machines – even patients who may be too old to benefit from the treatment, a U.S. study suggests.

Prostate cancers may grow too slowly to cause symptoms before an elderly man dies from other causes. Doctors can therefore opt to forego screening or treating some older men to spare them unnecessary procedures with side effects like impotence and incontinence.

Full story can be found on Reuters.