Care and mobility considerations
Localised prostate cancer that has never required treatment
Typically, there are no disabling effects.
Localised prostate cancer treated by radical radiotherapy or surgery
Treatments such as radical radiotherapy or prostatectomy have significant long term side effects for some men. These include urinary incontinence and impotence after treatment and diarrhoea after radical radiotherapy. A return to normal activities is expected in the majority of cases. 5-10 % of men are likely to be very affected by ongoing side effects 12 months after treatment. If needs are present at this stage they are likely to persist.
Locally advanced, metastatic or recurrent disease
Treatment such as radiotherapy may cause significant fatigue and diarrhoea.
There may be any of the effects of metastatic disease but bone metastases are particularly common and are painful. Metastases in the spine are common and back pain may significantly affect the ability to walk. Medication for pain may increase fatigue. Spinal cord compression may cause lower limb problems from numbness and unsteady gait to paralysis of the legs with bladder and bowel control problems. These may or may not resolve with appropriate treatment, it is a sign of advanced disease.
Hormone therapy causes significant and sometimes distressing changes in body image, hot flushes and fatigue. Once hormone therapy treatment has stopped working, any disabling effects of disease are likely to be permanent or get worse. Survival after treatment has stopped working is likely to be in the range of 4-18 months. Needs are likely develop in this group and increase over time.
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Amended April 2008
