Prostate Cancer Information
The Emotional Side Effects of Prostate Cancer
by Joslyn R. Kenowitz, Stephanie Napolitano, and Christian J. Nelson, PhD
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among men. Because of an increase in more effective treatment, the relative five-year survival rate is close to 100 percent when discovered in the local or regional stages. However, although survival rates are high, prostate cancer treatment comes with a variety of emotional and physical side effects.
Working Through Sexual Dysfunction after Prostate Cancer
by Leslie R. Schover, PhD
“Working through” is a good description of a man’s journey with sex after prostate cancer treatment. With patience, a willing partner, and openness to experiment, almost every man can have pleasurable sex. For most men or couples, it takes a few months after surgery, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy to find their new sexual normal.
The Role of Active Surveillance in Managing Localized Prostate Cancer
An independent panel convened recently by the National Institutes of Health has concluded that many men with localized, low-risk prostate cancer should be closely monitored, permitting treatment to be delayed until warranted by disease progression. However, monitoring strategies – such as active surveillance – have not been uniformly studied, and available data do not yet point to clear follow-up protocols.
Treating Advanced Prostate Cancer
Although there is no cure for advanced prostate cancer, it is often treatable. Many men outlive their prostate cancer, even those with advanced disease. Often, the prostate cancer grows slowly, and there are now effective treatment options that extend life even further.
National Cancer Comprehensive Network Publishes New Treatment Guidelines for Prostate Cancer
The new NCCN Guidelines for Patients™ for Prostate Cancer provide a framework on which to base treatment decisions. Several variables (including life expectancy, disease characteristics, predicted outcomes, and patient preferences) must be considered by the person with cancer and physician in tailoring prostate cancer therapy to the individual.
Couples Counseling Helps Improve the Sex Lives of Prostate Cancer Survivors and Their Partners
Both Internet-based counseling programs and face-to-face therapy sessions for couples improve the sex lives of prostate cancer survivors and their partners. That is the finding of a new study published in Cancer, a journal of the American Cancer Society. The results suggest that couples counseling can provide additional benefits to survivors’ sex lives beyond those experienced from medications like erectile dysfunction pills.
Study Shows Survival Benefit for Men with Intermediate-Grade Prostate Cancer
Short-term hormone therapy given in combination with radiation therapy to men with early-stage prostate cancer increased their chances of living longer compared to treatment with radiation therapy alone, according to a clinical trial supported by the National Cancer Institute. Benefits of the combined treatment were limited mainly to people with intermediate-risk disease and were not seen for men with low-risk prostate cancer, researchers say.
Success and Intimacy After Prostate Cancer
by Marlys Johnson
My husband, Gary, tells me that men tend to measure their level of success by their jobs, their possessions, and their sexual performance. Men are so shallow. Sigh.
