The Multidimensional Fallout of Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: An Observational Monocentric Analysis of 324 Patients in the East Of Algeria (2023–2025)

Background: Prostate carcinoma represents an escalating epidemiological burden in Algeria, particularly within the eastern regions. The communication of a cancer diagnosis frequently precipitates acute psychological distress, often exacerbated by emerging sexual dysfunction, the erosion of vocational capacity, and social withdrawal. This prospective monocentric investigation seeks to quantify the impact of diagnostic disclosure on sexual health, occupational stability, and familial support dynamics among a substantial cohort of 324 patients monitored over a two-year trajectory.
Methods: Conducted between 2023 and 2025 at the Medical Oncology Department of DIDOUCHE Mourad Hospital (Constantine, Algeria), this study enrolled 324 men diagnosed with prostate cancer (mean age: 66 years). Assessment modalities included the EPIC and IIEF psychometric instruments, evaluations of occupational status, the Family APGAR scale, and the HADS for psychological morbidity, supplemented by semi-structured interviews.
Results: The cohort exhibited profound functional and psychosocial impairment. Severe erectile dysfunction was reported by 72% of participants, with 55% experiencing a marked loss of libido. Vocational disruption was equally notable: 41% scaled back their professional commitments, and 26% ceased working entirely, primarily citing fatigue and psychological burden. Furthermore, only 38% perceived their familial support as adequate. Psychological screening revealed moderate-to-severe anxiety in 42% of the cohort.
Conclusion: The disclosure of a prostate cancer diagnosis exerts a profound, deleterious impact on sexual functionality, vocational retention, and psychosocial well-being within the Algerian context. To optimize patient trajectories, oncological care must transition toward a multidisciplinary paradigm that actively integrates sexual health counseling, vocational rehabilitation, and structured familial support.
Keywords: Prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, vocational disruption, familial support, diagnostic disclosure, monocentric study, Algeria, EPIC, IIEF.

Medical Oncology

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