When diagnosed with Cancer, your senses, your brain, your decision making is ’emotional’. Try to take the emotion out of your decision making by using the following acronym;
B.R.A.N.D.
Using the B.R.A.N.D. framework can help you navigate a prostate cancer diagnosis and evaluate next steps—such as active surveillance, surgery, or radiation—with your healthcare team.
1. B – Benefits
What are the positive outcomes of a specific treatment option?
- Active Surveillance: Avoids treatment-related side effects entirely while safely monitoring slow-growing or low-risk tumours.
- Surgery (Radical Prostatectomy) / Radiation Therapy: Offers curative intent for localized cancer, physically removing or destroying cancer cells to prevent further spread.
- Hormone Therapy (ADT): Effectively shrinks or slows down advanced or aggressive prostate cancers.
2. R – Risks
What are the potential downsides, complications, or side effects?
- Incontinence & Erectile Dysfunction: Common risks associated with prostate surgery and radiation due to nearby nerves and muscles.
- Radiation-Specific Risks: Bowel or bladder irritation and long-term tissue changes.
- Hormone Therapy Side Effects: Fatigue, hot flashes, weight gain, and loss of bone density.
- Psychological Distress: Active surveillance can sometimes cause anxiety regarding “untreated” cancer.
3. A – Alternatives
What other options or approaches are available?
- If a primary doctor recommends surgery, alternatives include external beam radiation, brachytherapy (internal seed radiation), or focal therapies (like HIFU).
- Seeking a second opinion from a multi-disciplinary team (including both a urologist and a radiation oncologist) is a standard alternative approach to gain perspective.
4. N – Need Time / Nothing
What happens if you take time to think or choose no treatment?
- Need Time: Prostate cancer is frequently very slow-growing. Taking a few weeks to gather information, consult specialists, and weigh lifestyle preferences rarely impacts the effectiveness of treatment.
- Doing Nothing: Choosing watchful waiting (focusing on symptom management rather than curative treatment) may be the preferred choice for older individuals or those with other significant medical conditions.
5. D – Decision
What is your final choice or action plan?
- Use the gathered facts to choose a path that aligns with your personal values, lifestyle priorities, and tolerance for risk.
- Outline clear next steps, such as setting up a follow-up appointment or scheduling regular PSA blood tests and biopsies.
