Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy, and the second most common cause of cancer among men in the United States. This means that an estimated 198,100 new cases were diagnosed in 2001. The treatment of localized prostate cancer is highly controversial, with many treatment options. These options include radical prostatectomy, hormonal manipulation, radiation therapy, brachytherapy, observation or any combination of the above. Brachytherapy is the permanent implantation of radioisotopes directly into the tumor. This has become a popular treatment, for it is both convenient and cost-effective. Impotence, urinary and bowel dysfunction and disease progression have frequently been utilized as proxy measurements of Quality of Life (QoL) among those with prostate cancer. There is little research data that evaluates treatment impact on QoL, from the patient's perspective. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the impact brachytherapy has on QoL, from the patient's perspective. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, seven patients were interviewed six months after brachytherapy treatment. Themes that emerged from the data surround (1) the physical changes attributed to the treatment, (2) treatment choices, (3) knowledge of the disease, (4) recieving the diagnosis and (5) use of medications to control symptoms post-treatment. The findings from this study can be utilized for patient education and to assist patients to make the appropriate treatment choices for themselves.
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