Abstract
Overview: As many as 233,000 men in the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Most diagnoses are of low-grade, localized disease, which tends to be slow growing and is rarely lethal, even in the absence of intervention. The amount and complexity of the information men receive at diagnosis may be overwhelming and difficult to process, particularly given the weight of a new cancer diagnosis and the potential for long-term, life-altering adverse effects from treatment. This review examines the multiple options available for men with newly diagnosed, low-risk, localized prostate cancer and explains how nurses can help these men and their partners make treatment decisions that are appropriate for their particular circumstances.