Cohort study of treatment-related adverse events among men receiving local treatment for locally advanced prostate cancer

Recent data suggest that local treatment with radical prostatectomy or radiation may improve survival outcomes in men with advanced prostate cancer. However, evidence is lacking on treatment-related adverse events. A cohort study of patients who were treated for locally advanced prostate cancer at Veterans Health Administration medical centers found that local (vs nonlocal) treatment was associated with adverse gastrointestinal, sexual, and urinary conditions within the year after initial treatment and remained significantly associated with these adverse conditions more than 2 years to 5 years after treatment. The authors conclude that patients and clinicians should consider the adverse effects of local treatment when making treatment decisions in the setting of advanced prostate cancer.