Psychological distress and lifestyle disruption in low-risk prostate cancer patients: Comparison between active surveillance and radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify distress in men treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) or active surveillance (AS).

METHODS

In a retrospective cross-sectional design, we assessed men through questionnaire and investigator-designed questions.

RESULTS

RP patients worried more about cancer spread than AS patients. RP patients were influenced by friends for treatment decision, whereas AS patients were influenced by urologists. RP group report declines in intimacy and instrumental. AS men worried more about future health and dying than post-RP men.

CONCLUSION

Fear of disease progression may be a motivating factor in choosing RP. AS patients adhere to their treatment decision in spite of distress.