Pamela Devine Discusses Psychosocial Issues Concerning Men with Prostate Cancer

Pamela Devine, RN, clinical nurse specialist, Philadelphia Veterans Administration Medical Center, discusses some of the psychosocial issues that men face when they are receiving treatment for their prostate cancer.

Devine says there is a huge component to the psychology of prostate cancer. In addition to sexual issues that men might face after treatment or surgery, men can also feel fatigue. Feeling fatigue may hinder these patients from going about their daily duties.

Sometimes, patients with cancer feel that they can no longer relate to other people because of their disease, Devine says. However, 95% of patients with early-stage prostate cancer go on to survive their disease.