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In general, patients with prostate cancer are able to maintain a relatively high quality of life (QOL), commonly reporting improvements in physical, emotional, and social functioning within 1 year of treatment. However, certain subpopulations of patients are susceptible to significant reductions in QOL during the course of their treatment. Data suggest that ethnic background and sexual preference both have significant effects on QOL for patients with prostate cancer. These parameters are often poorly documented and addressed by medical practitioners. Greater attention is needed to identify patients who are at increased risk of QOL reduction as a result of these factors.

Comparative effectiveness research aims to help clinicians, patients and policymakers make informed treatment decisions under real-world conditions. Prostate cancer patients have multiple treatment options, including active surveillance, androgen deprivation therapy, surgery and multiple modalities of radiation therapy. Technological innovations in radiation therapy for prostate cancer have been rapidly adopted into clinical practice despite relatively limited evidence for effectiveness showing the benefit for one modality over another. Comparative effectiveness research has become an essential component of prostate cancer research to help define the benefits, risks and effectiveness of the different radiation therapy modalities currently in use for prostate cancer treatment.