| Abstract: |
(from the chapter) Genitourinary (GU) cancers are common.' With the exception of testicular cancer, the incidence of GU cancers (e.g., prostate, bladder, renal, and penile cancers) increases with advancing age. Thus, understanding coincident life phase characteristics is important in optimizing the ability of each patient to cope with his or her illness. The effect of treatment on the quality of life (QOL) of patients has become more significant as survival has improved for many of these cancers. QOL areas of concern include coping with body image and integrity changes, varying degrees of sexual and physical intimacy dysfunction, and infertility. These issues compound the generic difficulties of coping with cancer, such as dealing with pain, fatigue, and other complications of treatment, including challenges of daily functioning and career uncertainty. Primary treatment decisions are complicated by comparing the curability and longevity potential of different options with post-treatment QOL concerns. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved). |
