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Review

Survivorship Challenges in Metastatic Prostate Cancer in the Era of Prolonged Survival: A Review

by
Cristina Cano Garcia
1,2,3,*,
Joseph Moryousef
2,
Jehonathan H. Pinthus
2 and
Darryl P. Leong
1,4
1
Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON L8L 2X2, Canada
2
Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
3
Department of Urology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
4
Department of Medicine, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2026, 18(15), 2465; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18152465
Submission received: 17 June 2026 / Revised: 23 July 2026 / Accepted: 29 July 2026 / Published: 31 July 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Trials and Evolving Treatment Paradigms in Urologic Cancers)

Simple Summary

Recent advances in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer have helped many patients live longer than ever before. As patients survive longer with their prostate cancer on long-term cancer treatment, it is becoming increasingly important to understand and manage their long-term sequelae. This review discusses some of the most common challenges faced by metastatic prostate cancer patients, including heart and bone health problems, loss of muscle strength, weight and body composition changes, hot flashes, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. We also review the evidence behind supportive care measures. By addressing these issues through a team-based approach, the goal of healthcare providers is to preserve functional independence and quality of life while living with metastatic prostate cancer.

Abstract

In metastatic prostate cancer, there have been pronounced survival gains driven by the introduction of combination and intensification strategies. Consequently, many patients now experience prolonged survival with metastatic disease. While these advances represent a major therapeutic success, prolonged exposure to systemic therapies is associated with a broad spectrum of adverse effects. These side effects affect multiple domains, including bone health, cardiovascular risk, physical function, and psychological well-being. As a result, survivorship has emerged as a critical and increasingly relevant aspect of care in metastatic prostate cancer. In parallel, the importance of patient-reported outcomes in clinical trials, alongside traditional oncologic endpoints, is increasingly acknowledged. Overall, survivorship care in metastatic disease remains incompletely conceptualized as the long-term impact of cumulative treatment burden is often underrecognized. This narrative review examines key survivorship challenges in metastatic prostate cancer in an era of improving survival, with a focus on treatment-related toxicities, quality of life, and unmet needs in supportive care. We highlight current evidence, identify gaps in knowledge, and discuss future directions for integrating survivorship into routine clinical practice.
Keywords: prostate cancer; survivorship; quality of life prostate cancer; survivorship; quality of life

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Cano Garcia, C.; Moryousef, J.; Pinthus, J.H.; Leong, D.P. Survivorship Challenges in Metastatic Prostate Cancer in the Era of Prolonged Survival: A Review. Cancers 2026, 18, 2465. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18152465

AMA Style

Cano Garcia C, Moryousef J, Pinthus JH, Leong DP. Survivorship Challenges in Metastatic Prostate Cancer in the Era of Prolonged Survival: A Review. Cancers. 2026; 18(15):2465. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18152465

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cano Garcia, Cristina, Joseph Moryousef, Jehonathan H. Pinthus, and Darryl P. Leong. 2026. "Survivorship Challenges in Metastatic Prostate Cancer in the Era of Prolonged Survival: A Review" Cancers 18, no. 15: 2465. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18152465

APA Style

Cano Garcia, C., Moryousef, J., Pinthus, J. H., & Leong, D. P. (2026). Survivorship Challenges in Metastatic Prostate Cancer in the Era of Prolonged Survival: A Review. Cancers, 18(15), 2465. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18152465

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