If you’re a man who suffers from prostate cancer, and your wellbeing is also affected by heart disease, you should think long and hard about your treatment choices, as you’re more likely to regret what you pick. This is according to a new study, which found that, of the 800 men with recurrent cancer studied, those with prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease were 52% more likely to regret their treatment choices than men without problems with their heart or veins.
According to lead author Dr Paul L Nguyen from the Department of Radiation Oncology at Harvard’s Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, ‘Treatment regret can have an adverse impact on a patient’s overall outlook and has been associated with a poorer global quality of life. Understanding predictors of regret can help clinicians better counsel patients about their treatments so that later regret can be avoided.’ So how does your treatment choice affect your wellbeing?
Dr Nguyen reported, ‘Most men with localised prostate cancer have multiple treatment options, each with their own set of potential risks and benefits. While many patients are grateful for the chance to select their treatment, some may subsequently regret their treatment if the outcomes after therapy do not meet their expectations.’ These treatment options included prostatectomy (which was chosen by 410 men), external beam radiation therapy (237), and brachytherapy (124) and primary androgen deprivation/hormone therapy (24).
The results of the study also revealed that 44% of the men with cardiovascular problems were experienced bowel problems, compared to just 36% of those without heart problems. These men with bowel problems had 58% higher levels regret, and those who were diagnosed at a younger age were also more likely to regret their choice of treatment. In addition, men with prostate cancer and cardiovascular problems were also more likely to experience urinary problems. 46% of these men suffered urinary problems, compared to just 39% of men without heart problems. The researchers concluded that their findings should highlight how important it is for your doctor to consider other health concerns when counselling you about your prostate cancer treatment options.