Is age related to treatment side-effects experienced in prostate cancer patients?

The authors aimed to determine whether age had an effect on patient quality of life after localized prostate cancer treatment.

Localized prostate cancer is cancer that is confined within the prostate gland. Treatment for localized prostate cancer can cause undesirable effects in patients, affecting their quality of life. Quality of life in patients can be determined using a rating system that determines the impact of treatment on patients emotional, social and physical abilities.

The aim of this study was to determine whether patient age could affect quality of life after treatment.

6,522 patients were used in this study. 27% of patients were younger than 60 years, 44% were between 60-70 years and 29% were older than 70 years.

44% underwent prostate surgery, 29% underwent radiation treatment, 18% underwent hormone therapy (targets the male sex hormones active in prostate cancer, such as testosterone) and 10% underwent active surveillance (monitoring of tumor progression and growth without treatment).

Patients under the age of 60 years experienced a 14% decline in urinary function compared to a 9% decline in patients over the age of 70 years. Patients under the age of 60 years experienced a 54% decline in sexual functioning after 1 year compared to a 40% decline after 2 years. Patients between 60-70 years experienced a 52% decline in sexual functioning after 1 year compared to a 44% decline after 2 years. Patients over the age of 70 years experienced a 42% decline in sexual functioning after 1 year compared to a 46% decline after 2 years.

At 2 years, 42% of patients under 60 years of age who received local treatment experienced a decline in sexual functioning compared to 34% of patients who received non-local treatments (treatment for cancer that has spread beyond the prostate). Sexual function worsened in patients under the age of 60 who received localized treatment by 41% compared to 25% in patients who received non-local treatment. Sexual function worsened in patients over the age of 70 who received localized treatment by 18% compared to 12% in patients who received non-local treatment. Patients of all ages experienced declines in urinary function after local treatment.

The authors concluded that younger men were more likely to experience declines in quality of life following localized prostate cancer treatment compared to older men. 

This was an observational (non-interventional) study and requires further valid results to be widely applied. 

If you are considering treatment for localized prostate cancer please consult your doctor for potential risks and benefits.