He Was Told He Needed Surgery for Cancer: A Second Opinion Changed Everything
When Howard Wolinsky went in for a routine checkup in his mid-50s. He thought he was doing everything right.
“I was just being a dutiful patient,” he said.
What followed was a diagnosis that would send him down a path many men never question. In Wolinsky’s case, he did. That decision to pause, ask questions, and ultimately get a second opinion didn’t just change his treatment plan. It changed his life.
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A diagnosis that felt urgent — and final
After a PSA test, which is a common screening tool for men, Wolinsky (pictured at left) was told he had prostate cancer. His doctor recommended immediate surgery.
“He said, ‘I have good news and bad news… I can cure you next Tuesday,’” Wolinsky recalled.
That kind of urgency can leave little room to question the next step. But Wolinsky chose to take a different route.
The second opinion that changed everything
Instead of moving forward with urgent surgery, Wolinsky sought another opinion. That decision is what ended up completely altering his outcome.
The second doctor told him something he wasn’t expecting: “I don’t think you need to be treated.”
Rather than surgery, he was advised to consider active surveillance. This strategy closely monitors cancer rather than jumping right into treatment.
More than a decade later, Wolinsky’s cancer has never progressed.
“In fact, it’s never been seen again,” he said.
Why more men are choosing surveillance
Wolinsky’s experience isn’t unique. It also reflects a major shift in how prostate cancer is treated today. Years ago, nearly 90-95 percent of men with low-risk prostate cancer underwent immediate surgery or treatment, according to Wolinsky. Today, that number has dramatically changed. Roughly 60 percent of men in the U.S. with low-risk prostate cancer now choose active surveillance, with rates climbing as high as 90 percent in some regions and up to 95 percent in countries like Sweden and the U.K. For many men, especially those with slow-growing cancer, outcomes are often the same. And they get to live their lives without the side effects of treatment.
Why prostate cancer isn’t one-size-fits-all
“Prostate cancer is very complicated,” said Dr. Zach Horne, a radiation oncologist. “There are many different ways to reach the same endpoint of remission.”
That complexity is exactly why second opinions matter. Doctors now understand that some men are being treated more aggressively than necessary.
“We’re learning more and more about… the potential for overtreatment,” Horne said.
The hidden cost of overtreatment
For prostate cancer patients, unnecessary treatment can come with serious trade-offs.
Hormone therapies, often used alongside radiation, can cause:
- Hot flashes
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Mood changes
- Increased risk of diabetes
- Heart complications
“No one really loves anti-testosterone therapy,” Horne said.
That’s why determining who actually needs treatment, along with who doesn’t, is critical.
How AI is helping personalize cancer care
New tools powered by artificial intelligence are helping doctors make more precise treatment decisions. Platforms like Artera analyze biopsy samples and compare them to outcomes from thousands of other patients.
“It helps… figure out… does this person actually stand to benefit from additional therapy or not?” Horne explained.
The goal is to reduce unnecessary treatment while improving outcomes overall.
“We’re getting better at personalizing treatment,” he said.
From patient to advocate
Wolinsky didn’t stop at his own experience. After sharing his journey publicly, he began hearing from men across the country who had never even heard of active surveillance. That led him to create a platform to educate others.
Today, he runs The Active Surveillor, a newsletter and resource hub where he shares the latest research, treatment insights, and patient stories. His mission is to help men avoid unnecessary treatment and make more informed decisions.
“People didn’t know,” he said. “And they needed to.”
What patients should do before making a decision
Looking back, Wolinsky believes one choice made all the difference. He didn’t rush.
“Once you get diagnosed, you’re stuck,” he said.
That’s why experts emphasize the importance of slowing down and asking questions.
“Patients are their own best advocates,” Horne said.
The bottom line
For men older than 50, a prostate cancer diagnosis can feel urgent and overwhelming. But it’s not always a race to treatment.
Sometimes, the most important decision isn’t surgery, radiation, or medication. It’s getting that second opinion with another doctor.
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