Voices

Doctors should treat prostate cancer patients taking into account their personal needs, says Ken Mastris, a past Chairman of Europa Uomo

Patients do not get the right information about treatment side effects, like sexual dysfunction and incontinence. My experience is that I’ve suffered for 12 years with incontinence, and the initial advice was that if you only wear one pad a day, you’re dry. But things do not work that way. And it’s an embarrassment when you go out and you have to be prepared, ask where the toilets are and things like that.

People should be treated respectfully. My view is the professionals should treat the patient, not the cancer. Each patient is different. You can’t have the same treatment for all.

Based on an interview with the Patient Empowerment Foundation