MONDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Gay men have a lower
health-related quality of life than other men after prostate cancer
treatment, a new study finds.
The study included 92 gay men in the United States and Canada
who completed an Internet survey that included the Expanded
Prostate Cancer Index (EPIC), which is designed to assess patient
function after cancer treatment, and a widely used questionnaire on
male sexual health. They also answered questions about their fears
of cancer recurrence.
The gay men's responses were compared to data from men in the
general population collected in previous published research.
Compared to men in the general population, gay men reported
statistically significant worse functioning and more severe bother
scores on the EPIC urinary, bowel and hormonal system scales. Gay
men also reported worse EPIC sexual and ejaculatory functioning
scores, as well as much worse mental health functioning and higher
fear of cancer recurrence.
The study, presented Sunday at the American Urological
Association's annual scientific meeting in Washington, D.C., is one
of the first to examine the impact of prostate cancer on gay
men.
"This is one of the early studies demonstrating that quality of life is more significantly impacted by prostate cancer in the gay population," Dr. Tomas L. Griebling, an AUA spokesman, said in an association news release. "More research is needed to determine what steps we can take to diminish these impacts."
Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until
it is published in a peer-reviewed journal.
More information
The American Cancer Society has more about
prostate cancer.