watchful waitingnoun [ U ]
uk/ˌwɒtʃ.fəl ˈweɪ.tɪŋ//ˌwɑːtʃ.fəl ˈweɪ.t̬ɪŋ/specializeda way of treating a medical condition that involves a period of waiting and watching for further symptoms (= signs of disease) to develop, rather than immediate treatment such as surgery or chemotherapy:
More men with low-risk prostate cancer are now opting for watchful waiting rather than undergoing surgery.
Compare
active surveillance