**1. Introduction**

356 Prostate Cancer – Diagnostic and Therapeutic Advances

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Recently, a number of alternative, less invasive treatments have been developed for patients with localized prostate cancer, who are not indicated for surgery, or who do not want to experience the potential side effects of surgery. Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP), 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), brachytherapy, intensity-modulated external beam radiotherapy (IMRT), highintensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and cryoablation of the prostate have all been applied to treat this group of patients.

QOL measurements for prostate cancer therapy have become an essential component of clinical trial evaluations, and should be integrated into comprehensive cancer care. Health-related QOL (HRQOL) concerns, urinary function, and potency rate after treatment are important to patients when selecting treatment options for clinically localized prostate cancer, and they also play a critical role in evaluating outcome following intervention.

Many studies have been carried out with the aim of improving QOL, urinary function, and potency rate after treatment for localized prostate cancer with many modalities. Clinicians have an obligation to assess the impacts these treatments have on QOL, and use this knowledge in an overall evaluation of efficacy.
