Perspectives on prostate cancer treatment: awareness, attitudes, and relationships

To compare prostate cancer patients' perceptions with those of physicians regarding treatments, awareness, attitudes, and views of the relationships between the two groups.

One thousand randomly selected members of US TOO International, Inc., and 200 doctors actively involved in the treatment of prostate cancer, were involved in the study.

Almost half of the prostate cancer patients surveyed (48%) were diagnosed with the disease between the ages of 60 and 69; almost one-third were over the age of 70 (31%), and one-fifth (21%) younger than 60 years old. Doctors feel more confident than patients that the patients were sufficiently informed to make treatment decisions, although the majority of patients surveyed reported they took a very active or somewhat active role in the treatment decision process. The doctors' recollection of discussing treatment options exceeded the patients' recollections of those discussions. Doctors and patients alike believe support groups, such as US TOO, to be supportive.

Although recollections of treatment discussions differ between doctors and patients, ongoing communication is very important. The majority of patients state they have relied upon several sources for gaining knowledge of their disease and their options, namely, their doctors, other health professionals, and support groups.