Symptom Burden and Survivorship Care for Patients With Prostate Cancer on Androgen Deprivation Therapy

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Daniel Sentana-Lledo Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA

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Anurag Saraf Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA

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Alicia K. Morgans Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA

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Prostate cancer survivors represent a growing population of patients with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, whether they were cured using local therapies or continue to receive systemic treatment of advanced disease. Many patients receive androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) during treatment, which is associated with many long-lasting physical and psychological effects. Identifying and addressing the needs of survivors is imperative for improving their health and well-being. This narrative review highlights the most common issues associated with ADT affecting survivorship in prostate cancer, including cardiovascular and metabolic effects, musculoskeletal health, sexual morbidity, and local therapy effects, as well as the mental and psychological toll. A special emphasis is placed on the existing literature examining specific interventions to alleviate these symptoms, along with describing existing gaps in knowledge, with the goal of promoting dedicated studies aimed at enhancing the survivorship experience of patients with prostate cancer.

Submitted October 18, 2023; final revision received May 28, 2024; accepted for publication June 4, 2024. Published online December 20, 2024.

Disclosures: Dr. Morgans has disclosed serving as a consultant for Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Curium Pharma, Exelixis, MacroGenics, Lantheus, Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi, and Telix Pharmaceuticals; and receiving grant/research support from Bayer, Pfizer, Novartis, Janssen, Lantheus, and Sumitomo Pharma America. The remaining authors have disclosed that they have no financial interests, arrangements, affiliations, or commercial interests with the manufacturers of any products discussed in this article or their competitors.

Correspondence: Daniel Sentana-Lledo, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215. Email: daniel_sentanalledo@dfci.harvard.edu
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