Psychosocial consequences of prostate cancer: 30 years of research

Carcinoma of the prostate is the leading source of solid-organ cancer in U.S. men. When the disease is discovered early, survival rates are high; survivorship, however, is commonly complicated by disease-specific treatment side effects that challenge a man's physical, mental, and social well-being and life satisfaction. This review comprises a search of scientific literature published between 1970 and March 2004 with the aims of 1) identifying the terms used to define the psychosocial consequences unique to men treated for prostate cancer and 2) describing the research aimed at improving the lives of survivors through psychosocial interventions.