Typically, less invasive therapies should be considered first.

This also has implications for treatment (see Minimally invasive therapies below).

Some patients, however, may need invasive therapy.

Patients who continue to have symptoms despite drug therapy can consider more invasive therapies.

"As a general rule, the least invasive therapy that is appropriate should be used first," Dr. Diokno said at the briefing.

If it's worthwhile treating with invasive therapy, then surely it's worth preventing.

This is one of the lessons of failed back syndrome and another compelling reason for initially approaching back pain by looking to less invasive therapies.

Physicians are also influenced, says Dr. Becker, by studies suggesting that women do worse than men when subjected to invasive or surgical therapy.

An option for minimally invasive and long-term effective therapy is laser phototherapeutic keratectomy.

Data are accumulating to indicate endoscopic therapy is a safe, less invasive, and effective therapy for very early esophageal cancer.