Australian research has revealed that relatively modest survival benefits are sufficient to offset the most common side effects of treatments for prostate cancer for most men, three years after diagnosis.
Surveying more than 350 men who were free of recurrence at three years, they found that severe erectile dysfunction and severe loss of libido only required four and five months extra survival respectively, to justify the effects.
Urinary leakage, which was most prevalent among those who had a radical prostatectomy required four months extra survival to be offset, but severe urinary leakage required 28 months.
The study authors, which included Professor Bruce Armstrong from the University of Sydney, said the findings have “an important clinical implication”.
“Patients are likely to make decisions...
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