Quality of Life an Issue in Prostate Cancer Treatment

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Other findings were less clear-cut:

• Men who received brachytherapy had long-lasting urinary irritation, bowel problems and sexual problems, along with short-term problems with general vitality and hormonal function.
• Nerve-sparing prostatectomies had fewer effects on sexual function. But urinary incontinence was often seen after the surgery.
• Treatment-related problems tended to be worse in patients who were older, obese, had large prostates or a high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) score.

Overall, black men reported lower satisfaction with overall outcomes, including those related to quality of life.

Spouses and partners were directly affected by the quality-of-life changes, the research showed, with their emotional state linked to the patient's own level of satisfaction with the treatment outcome.

"This will help people tailor discussion and decision-making," said study senior author Dr. John Wei, associate chair for clinical research at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. "We know more than is typically used in practice."

More information

There's more on prostate cancer therapies at the U.S. National Cancer Institute.