A new study is hopeful of using ‘Tame’ virus to battle against prostate cancer. It has been reported that the virus is harmless to the human beings and its exposure can at most lead to mild flu -like symptoms or diarrhea.

U. S researchers carried on the study for over a period of nine months on 85000 Medicare receivers aged 65 and above suffering from prostate cancer for a time period from 1994-2002. All the patients were treated respectively by a team of specialists comprising of urologists, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists. After the completion of the analysis period of nine months, 21 percent patient went through radical prostatectomy, 42 percent preferred radiation therapy, 17 percent adopted hormone therapy and the rest opted for no treatment.

According to a news release from the journal's publisher, the researchers suggested a strong connection between the kind of specialist and the kind of treatment undertaken.

"Our findings provide new insight into the relationship between physician visit patterns and receipt of therapy for localized prostate cancer," wrote Dr. Thomas L. Jang and colleagues. "The pattern of specialist visits and treatment that we observed suggests that [physician] preferences may be affecting treatment decisions of Medicare patients".

The study authors suggested that the association between the treatment and specialist highlights the requirement for the masses to be better informed prior to making the treatment decision.