Assessing Quality of Life of Patients With Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed prostate cancer * Stratum I: * Clinically localized primary prostate cancer * T1-T3, G1-G3, N0, M0 * Plan to undergo a radical prostatectomy OR * Local or locally advanced primary prostate cancer * T1-T4, G1-G3, N0, M0 * Plan to undergo radiotherapy with curative intent * Stratum II: * Metastatic prostate cancer * T1-T4, G1-G3, N1, M0-M1 OR * T1-T4, G1-G3, N0-1, M1 * Plan to receive hormonal treatment * No anti-androgen monotherapy * No cerebral metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * Any age Performance status: * Not specified Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Not specified Hepatic: * Not specified Renal: * Not specified Other: * Mentally fit to complete a questionnaire * Literate in the language of the questionnaires * No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude compliance * No other concurrent malignancy except basal cell skin cancer * No concurrent participation in other quality of life investigations that would preclude study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * Not specified Endocrine therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior neoadjuvant hormonal treatment * Planned adjuvant hormonal therapy (orchiectomy, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue, or maximal androgen blockade) is allowed for patients in stratum I Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No interstitial radiotherapy * More than 2 years since prior radiotherapy (stratum II) Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * More than 2 years since prior prostatectomy (stratum II) Other: * No prior treatment for prostate carcinoma