The Waiting Game: When a Husband's Cancer Timing Tests a Marriage

A wife of a 70-year-old man with intermediate-stage prostate cancer is anxious about his plan to delay prostate surgery for a year, despite doctors warning that the cancer could spread and that immediate surgery lowers the risk of side effects. The Dear Prudence response encourages an honest, fear-informed conversation that acknowledges his autonomy while stressing the potential health implications, and it suggests practical steps like asking his doctor about diet or exercise to improve outcomes, so the couple can face the prognosis together and still value the time they have.