Need for Hospital Care and Palliative Treatment for Prostate Cancer Treated with Noncurative Intent

PURPOSE: We investigate the ultimate need for palliative treatments and hospital care in prostate cancer patients treated with noncurative intent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was done of 514 prostate cancer patients who died between 1988 and 1990. RESULTS: Of the patients who later died of prostate cancer 61% needed 1 or more palliative treatments (transurethral resection of the prostate, radiation treatment or upper urinary tract diversion) before death. An average of 5 weeks was spent in the hospital due to prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who failed deferred treatment (thus dying of prostate cancer) needed a considerable amount of hospital care and palliative therapy before they ultimately died of the disease.