PERCEPTIONS OF MASCULINITY AND BODY IMAGE IN MEN WITH PROSTATE CANCER AFTER ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION

Objective of the Study: The objective of this study is to evaluate the side effects related to body image in men undergoing anti-androgenic treatment.

Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study conducted over a six-month period between January and June 2023, including 150 patients followed for prostate cancer and still under anti-androgenic hormone therapy, with post-therapeutic monitoring consultations every three months. We asked the patients to report all side effects related to body image and to rate each effect on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being no discomfort and 10 being extreme discomfort. Correlations were analyzed using Pearsons correlation coefficient.

Results: The age of the patients ranged from 49 to 75 years, with a median age of 68 years. The diagnosis of high-risk prostate cancer was made in all patients based on PSA levels, histopathological study, and/or clinical and radiological TNM classification. Hormone therapy (Triptorelin 11.25 mg or Goserelin 10.8 mg every three months) was started six months prior as neoadjuvant to local radiotherapy. The total duration of hormone therapy was 2 years for all patients. Seventeen patients, or 11.33%, reported the occurrence of gynecomastia between 8 and 14 months after the start of hormone therapy, with an average discomfort of 5.9/10. Sixty-five patients, or 43.33%, noted weight gain starting from the 6th month of hormone therapy, with an average discomfort of 6.3/10. Fifty patients, or 33.33%, reported a reduction in penis size, with an average discomfort of 9.5/10. All patients were informed about these side effects before starting treatment. None of the patients received any medical or other treatment besides the ongoing hormone therapy. The reduction in penis size was correlated with the discomfort felt. No other significant correlation was found.

Conclusion: Managing the side effects of hormone therapy is crucial to improving the quality of life for patients and optimizing therapeutic adherence. It is essential to inform these men about these potential effects, especially since there is no treatment available to mitigate some of these effects.