All prostate cancer treatments involve side effects but new American research may help men choose the best option.
In one of the first large studies to examine quality of life after therapy, researchers compared the side effects men experienced against how satisfied they and their partners reported feeling with treatment.
Twelve hundred men and 625 of their partners were surveyed before therapy, at two, six, 12 and 24 months after treatment.
Patterns of side effects emerged: Incontinence - more common with surgery (15 per cent had incontinence a year or two after treatment) Other urinary problems (pain, burning, weak stream etc.) - more common with brachytherapy Bowel problems - equally common with brachytherapy and external beam radiation - less common with surgery Loss of energy/ depression - more common with radiation Erectile dysfunction - recovery time was worst in men who had adjuvant hormone therapy and external beam radiation Partners of men who had surgery were the most distressed by side effects (44 per cent reported distress compared to 22 per cent of partners of external beam radiation patients and 13 per cent of brachytherapy patients). The study’s researchers hope that these findings will help men better understand their options and choose a therapy appropriately. This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.