Definition: Watchful waiting refers to seeing whether symptoms progress, stay the same or clear on their own before undergoing medical or surgical treatment.
Watchful waiting is a phrase that is used in reference to urology conditions including kidney stones, mild urinary tract infections, early-stage kidney cancer, an enlarged prostate, and prostate cancer.
Also Known As: active surveillance, observation, vigilance
Examples:
When her tests came back showing that she had early-stage kidney cancer, after discussion of her treatment options, she decided on a course of watchful waiting. She was scheduled to return for an evaluation in a few months.