Prostate cancer is the most common solid-tumor cancer in veterans, accounting for approximately 15,000 cases per year in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States. African Americans have the highest incidence of all ethnicities.
Currently, there are more than 200,000 veterans living with prostate cancer, and many have experienced a range of physical effects, including urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction; psychological challenges, such as PTSD; and treatment regret.
In this panel ReCAP, produced in partnership with the Association of VA Hematology/Oncology (AVAHO), Drs Kassandra August-Marcucio, Jennifer Taylor, and Jed Seltzer address the major physical and psychological burdens from surviving prostate cancer.
The panelists report on surprising data comparing access to prostate cancer care for veterans with healthcare available in the general population. Equitable access, they underlined, has resulted in improved outcomes for African American patients treated for prostate cancer in the VHA.
They also discuss management strategies to support veterans, beginning with the treatment plan when patients are educated about the side effects of surgery and radiation.
The experts discuss VA supportive benefits such as individual and couples' support groups and mentorship programs, all of which serve to alleviate psychological trauma and fear of cancer recurrence.
This program was created in collaboration with the Association of VA Hematology/Oncology (AVAHO), and does not represent the opinions of the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Survivorship in Veterans: Prostate Cancer - Medscape - Jun 01, 2023.
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