Quality-of-Life Issues Associated with the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

The incidence of prostate cancer in the United States has dramatically increased over the last several years. As a result of prostate-specific antigen testing, many more men have localized, asymptomatic prostate cancer at the time of initial diagnosis. Treatment options for patients with prostate-confined adenocarcinoma of the prostate include observation, radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, radioactive prostate implantation, hormonal therapy, cryotherapy, and various combinations of the above modalities. Quality of life can be affected by the tumor and by any of the hormonal, surgical, or radiotherapeutic interventions. These treatments raise complex and multidimensional issues. Although quality-of-life issues are becoming integral and important components of clinical research in prostate cancer, many challenges in research and practice remain.