Implications of treatment on body image and quality of life.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the changes in body image secondary to the treatment of prostate cancer, and to provide a review of the literature regarding body image assessment and its relationship to quality of life (QOL) among men with prostate cancer.

DATA SOURCES

Review of current and classic literature.

CONCLUSION

There is strong evidence for the existence of a relationship between body image perception and QOL in men with prostate cancer.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Understanding the effect of body image changes on QOL will allow us to develop targeted interventions designed to improve the QOL of survivors of prostate cancer.