Supporting patients with the psychosocial impacts of prostate cancer

A cancer diagnosis can impact the psychosocial wellbeing of a patient, leading to the manifestation of a variety of symptoms. Prostate cancer, and the associated treatments for all stages, can trigger significant physical side effects such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, climacturia, bowel control issues, vasomotor effects, fatigue, hot flushes, weight gain and gynaecomastia. As survival rates for prostate cancer have increased, survivors have been left facing the potential impact on their psychological wellbeing and with psychological symptoms, ranging from depression, anxiety and adjustment disorder to severe cases of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Side effects from treatments can have negative psychological and social implications that can cause feelings of humiliation, depression, anxiety and mood changes. Side effects may also decrease quality of life, lower self-confidence and lead to the patient withdrawing from social activity (Mainwaring et al, 2021). The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (2004) guidance on improving supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer recognises that psychological distress is common among those affected by cancer, and that patients should have access to appropriate psychological support.