Low literacy may be an overlooked but significant barrier to the diagnosis of early-stage prostate cancer among low-income white and black men. The development of culturally sensitive, low-literacy educational materials may improve patient awareness of prostate cancer and improve the frequency of diagnosis of early-stage cancer.

The current review summarizes some of the key psychosocial issues related to prostate cancer both generally and for an older adult population. The review focuses on three main areas: (1) quality of life issues, (2) psychosocial implications and (3) treatment choices. More generally, the article presents information on the general background, screening guidelines, common side effects of treatment, and current psychiatric and psychological management strategies in prostate cancer. The article addresses the clinical approaches as well as the complexities that surface when deciding the treatment for patients with prostate cancer. Clinical and future implications are discussed.