Single men may forgo retreatment of prostate cancer

NEW YORK - Single men with prostate cancer that has spread to the
bone are less likely to receive repeat radiation therapy to alleviate
the pain than their married counterparts, a team at Fox Chase Cancer
Center in Philadelphia reports.

Dr. Andre Konski presented the results of the Radiation Therapy
Oncology Group at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and
Oncology annual meeting, being held this week in Denver.

Investigators analyzed data from men with metastatic prostate cancer
who were treated with various radiation doses. The main objective was
to evaluate outcomes based upon marital status.

Konski found that single men were less likely to seek retreatment than
married men.

The difference in retreatment rates may be due to less social support
and encouragement among single men, Konski said. "We need to come up
with strategies to support them, such as nurse follow-up and patient
navigators who can help them through the healthcare system."

"We are just starting to scratch the surface of this population as far
as what they need or their attitudes," he told Reuters Health. He
added that these findings "might suggest a more aggressive first
treatment, knowing that the patient is unlikely to come back."

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