Radical prostatectomy for carcinoma: 30-year experience and 15-year survivals.

Three strata of medical care are shown in this series of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for carcinoma: (1) Medical School Hospital patients had an average age 4 years greater than patients in the other 2 groups and the lowest 15-year survival rate of 15 per cent. 2) The Veterans Hospital patients had an average age 4 years younger than patients in the Medical School Hospital group but there was little opportunity for preventive care by early diagnosis and they had a 15-year survival rate of 26 per cent. 3) The Emanuel series of private patients had good preventive private medical care, allowing for earlier diagnosis in a patient population without other serious medical problems, and a 15-year survival rate of 61 per cent. The 15-year survival figures for other modalities of therapy, including various types of radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, are necessary for meaningful evaluation of efficacy.