All prostate cancer treatments impair quality of life

All treatments for localised prostate cancer have persistent adverse effects on quality of life, according to a three-year observational study from Australia (BMJ 2009;399:b4817). However, the impact varies by treatment option.

Compared with healthy controls, all men reported impaired sexual function, but the impact was severe in those receiving androgen deprivation therapy, who also reported the poorest general physical and mental health. Nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy had least impact on sexual function after three years. Urinary function was rated worst after surgery, and bowel function was most affected by external beam radiotherapy.