Prostate cancer therapies all affect quality of life

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64B5EA20100512

• The various forms of prostate cancer treatment -- from surgery to radiation to hormones -- can all have long-term effects on men's quality of life when it comes to sexual function and urinary problems, a new study finds.
• On the other hand, researchers found, none of the treatments seemed to have strong effects on men's overall quality of life -- including energy levels, pain, emotional well-being and ability to perform day-to-day physical tasks, like walking, climbing stairs and carrying groceries.
• The majority -- 60 percent -- underwent radical prostatectomy, surgical removal of the prostate gland. Another 17 percent had brachytherapy, an internal form of radiation therapy in which radioactive "seeds" are implanted in the prostate gland, and 12 percent had externally delivered radiation.
• In this study, the researchers found that, in general, men who had surgery or any form of radiation saw their urinary symptoms worsen in the first year after treatment, based on their responses to standard quality-of-life questionnaires. As a group, surgery patients had the most problems.

Reflection

When I read this article, I discovered many new things that I have never knew before. For example, I never knew that a surgery for prostate cancer can affect your future life so drastically. I also found out that the treatments are not the ones that affect your social and sexual life but the surgery. I would have always thought that the treatment would be the cause of most of the side effects.

"Prostate Cancer Therapies All Affect Quality of Life." Reuters.com. 12 May 10. Web. 13 May 10. .