Prostate cancer treatment choices influenced by money

The treatment choices men make when diagnosed with prostate cancer can have a significant bearing on subsequent quality of life, including urinary and sexual function, and sometimes those choices are influenced by finances.

An all-island study involving 3,348 prostate cancer survivors, conducted by the National Cancer Registry and the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, found long-term health-related quality of life was affected by the main course of treatment men chose following a cancer diagnosis.

For instance, men who took the radical option of having their prostate gland removed subsequently had a significantly higher quality of life than men who chose hormone therapy alone or radiotherapy without concurrent hormone therapy.