This view might lead some men to choose watchful waiting or hormonal therapy. Radiation therapy is another good option for some patients. It provides a 5-year survival rate equal to radical prostatectomy. Postponing or relieving symptoms may not be their main goal. Instead, many younger, healthy men are more interested in a cure or at least in surviving beyond 10 - 20 years.
Views regarding side effects are another very important factor.
Some men cannot imagine living with side effects such as incontinence or impotence. Other men are less concerned about these and more concerned about survival. These difficult decisions are even harder for men who try to make them alone. Many men find that speaking with other men who have faced or are currently facing the same issues is useful.