More and more men with prostate cancer are choosing not to get treated.
In the past, these men often did what's called watchful waiting---simply waiting for something to happen with the cancer before taking any active measures.
This might be because some studies have shown that treatment might not help much.
In fact, one report estimated about 25 percent of the men treated for prostate cancer do not benefit from the therapies.
Many men are now taking a more proactive approach while still saying no to treatment.
"We are finding these cancers smaller and smaller, and we know for sure that many of them would never need treatment in their lifetime," Urological Oncologist Mark Soloway said.
Soloway said not watchful waiting, but a plan called "active surveillance" may be the best bet.
This active surveillance includes a rectal exam and Prostate-Specific Antigen test every four months as well as a biopsy once a year.
No surgery, no radiation, no treatment.
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Options
News 8's Todd Boatwright has more details on how some doctors believe that no treatment is the best treatment for some prostate cancer patients.
 
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But active surveillance isn't for everyone. When Ramesh Krishnaiyer was diagnosed with prostate cancer he chose
surgery. It had risks, but it also eased his fear.
"I wasn't too happy about something growing every second of the day within me." Krishnaiyer said. "Sooner, the better. I needed to get it out."
For Terry Johnson, making it big with his group The Flamingos was easy compared to hearing he had cancer.
"It was just a frightful thing to hear...cancer."
Johnson was ready to undergo an experimental treatment when he met Doctor Soloway.
Soloway told Johnson that he would not die from his prostate cancer. He simply said it wasn't large enough to kill
him.
So instead of treatment, Johnson chose active surveillance.
It's been about one year for Johnson and so far, so good.
Soloway is following about 200 men on active surveillance. He said some will eventually need to be treated, but not many.
"Only about 12 percent of the men have been treated," Soloman said. "Eighty-eight percent have had no treatment yet."
Some believe that active surveillance is a careful approach that is a welcome option.
