Study shows impact of cancer treatment side-effects

A new Irish medical study is giving cancer patients more information about the side-effects of potential treatments.

Over 3,000 prostate cancer survivors were asked to reveal which treatment they received, and which symptoms they experienced.

Researchers on the 'PiCTure' survey found that patients who underwent surgery or radiotherapy had a similar quality of life.

However, lead author of the report. Dr Frances Drummond, said there can be significant differences with some treatments.

"Men treated with hormone therapy had the worst overall quality of life … while those who are treated with brachytherapy had the highest," she said.

"Brachytherapy is radioactive pellets inserted directly into the prostate," she explained, while "hormone therapy … decreases the testosterone level in the body.