Dr. Shore on Lack of Reported Symptoms in Men With Prostate Cancer

Neal D. Shore, MD, medical director, Carolina Urologic Research Center, managing partner, Atlantic Urology Clinics, discusses preliminary results of the Harris poll, which surveyed how men with advanced prostate cancer communicate with their practitioners.

The Harris poll, conducted by the International Prostate Cancer Coalition, also included input from oncologists, urologists, physician assistants, nurses, caregivers, and advocacy groups to determine how well practitioners are communicating with patients with advanced prostate cancer, Shore explains.

Results showed that, overall, patients are reluctant to disclose several of their symptoms, such as fatigue, bone pain, poor sleep patterns, depression, and an inability to take part in daily activities. However, there was a higher percentage of caregivers who noticed such symptoms versus patients who recognized and reported them, Shore says. It was also found that an even lower percentage of patients with these symptoms discussed them with their physicians.