Mike Richman of VA Research Communications interviews Dr. Timothy Wilt, a physician-researcher at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, about his 20-year landmark study on prostate cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among men. The study focuses on the best way to treat early stage prostate cancer, whether it's surgical removal of the prostate–the first choice of many patients–or observation, which involves monitoring using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, and delayed surgery to reduce possible symptoms. The trial finds that surgery does not significantly reduce all-cause or prostate cancer deaths for men in the early stages of the disease. (10/24/17)