Choosing Health, Choosing Treatment: Patient Choice After Diagnosis of Localized Prostate Cancer

Geographic variation in prostate cancer survival in New South Wales

“…Our study did not examine treatment, but the evidence for improved survival from any one management strategy in men with localised prostate cancer is equivocal 13 . Current recommendations for localised disease are based on informed choice, 14 taking into account factors such as clinical characteristics, life expectancy, quality of life and personal preferences 15 , 16 rather than an expectation of increased survival. Differences in access to follow‐up services could be one explanation, with several studies suggesting that men with metastatic or recurrent disease who are identified and given salvage treatment earlier have better survival 17 …”

Factors associated with treatment received by men diagnosed with prostate cancer in Queensland, Australia

“…As a result of differing side effects, risks and benefits associated with each treatment option [2], it is not surprising that men diagnosed with prostate cancer are increasingly involved in making their own treatment decisions [8,9]. Current recommendations are therefore based on informed choice [10], which typically involves input from a variety of sources, including physicians, partners, family, friends, support groups, the internet and other media [8,9]. In addition, factors such as clinical characteristics, life expectancy as a result of comorbidities, quality of life and personal preferences also affect the decision‐making process [8,9,11].…”

Designing Normative Messages About Active Surveillance for Men With Localized Prostate Cancer

“…For men at low risk of dying from prostate cancer, treatment is not likely to improve prognosis and may instead leave these patients with significant adverse effects (e.g., impotence and incontinence) that negatively affect quality of life (Carter, 2012). According to current UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines (issued in 2008), active surveillance (AS) should be the preferred treatment for low-risk patients (Branney, White, Jain, Hiley, & Flowers, 2009). Nevertheless, active treatment for low-risk patients has increased in recent years (Jacobs et al, 2013).…”