The UroOnc Minute: Survivorship in Prostate Cancer Care, with Timothy J. Daskivich, MD

In this episode of The UroOnc Minute, host Adam Weiner, MD, is joined by Timothy J. Daskivich, MD, MSHPM, associate professor of urology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, to discuss survivorship and long-term quality-of-life considerations for patients with prostate cancer. Daskivich, whose work focuses on survivorship research, emphasizes that prostate cancer care does not end with diagnosis or definitive treatment but extends across years of follow-up.

Daskivich frames survivorship as a core component of cancer care built on 3 pillars: cancer control, quality of life, and mental health. While disease monitoring remain central, he underscores the importance of proactively addressing urinary and sexual function, noting that these issues affect nearly all patients undergoing surgery or radiation. He shares practical strategies for routine assessment, including the use of validated patient-reported outcome measures such as the SHIM questionnaire for erectile function and the EPIC urinary domains to track continence and irritative symptoms over time.

A key focus of the discussion is the often-overlooked mental health burden associated with prostate cancer. Daskivich highlights data showing elevated rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide risk among prostate cancer survivors, advocating for greater vigilance and routine screening in urology clinics. He describes simple, scalable approaches such as brief depression screeners that can be integrated into everyday practice to identify patients in need of additional support.

Looking ahead, Daskivich points to emerging research on survivorship outcomes following focal therapy, an area where long-term quality-of-life data are still evolving. He also discusses the growing role of artificial intelligence and clinical decision support tools in helping practices track patient-reported outcomes and identify trends that may otherwise go unnoticed. Together, these advances may help standardize and strengthen survivorship care, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive support well beyond their initial prostate cancer treatment.