Your prostate cancer decision is all about “who you are.”

Friday, 26 February 2010

Tom Baker Cancer Center, Psychosocial Resources, 2202 2nd St SW, Calgary, AB T2S 3C1. john.robinson@albertahealthservices.ca This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it To highlight the role of psychosocial variables in treatment decision making for patients with localized prostate cancer and how family physicians can be of most help to such patients in facilitating good treatment choices.

PubMed was searched, and articles relevant to the psychosocial aspects of localized prostate cancer treatment decision making were included. Articles were excluded when they clearly specified inclusion of men with metastatic disease. This is not a systematic review, and recommendations made are drawn from studies of level II or III evidence.

The optimal strategy for managing localized prostate cancer has not been established and currently includes a number of potential options: active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, and cryoablation. Consequently, men often struggle during the decision-making process, and some later regret their decisions. With an increased awareness of the psychosocial aspects of patient decision making, family physicians can help patients make better decisions.

Family physicians can help minimize the decisional regret experienced by patients after treatment by encouraging patients to consider their values and social supports, as well as the accuracy and appropriateness of the information used in the decision-making process.

Written by:
Birnie K, Robinson J.

Reference:
Can Fam Physician. 2010 Feb;56(2):137-41.

“Who are you” factors and why it matters (Click here for who are you factors explained)

This article makes the case about appropriately assessing your situation in a “customized” fashion. The term used “decisional regret” is a good one and something I see often. The “who are you” method takes into account all of the parameters as they apply to the particular patient to help with the best decision for that particular patient. Just because Uncle Bob is happy with his decision doesn’t mean you will. (One size does not fit all analogy) I like this article and its implications.