Focal therapy (FT) represents a novel treatment for prostate cancer with the potential for oncologic control with more favorable functional outcomes compared to whole-gland treatment. An improved understanding of short, intermediate, and long-term oncological and functional outcomes is needed to further define ideal candidates for FT.

Treatment-related regret (TRR) captures the effect of treatment-related functional impairments, oncologic anxiety and outcomes, and behavioral, emotional, and interpersonal changes associated with diagnosis and treatment within the context of patient values and expectations [1], [2], [3]. Regret occurs when uncertainty about the best choice is unresolved or when an unfavorable outcome leads one to believe that another decision might have been preferable [4].

Clark et al. [5] developed and validated an instrument to capture prostate cancer TRR. To date, there is only one study reporting TRR following FT [6]. The present study examines TRR in men with primarily intermediate-risk prostate cancer undergoing primary partial gland cryoablation (PPGCA) enrolled in a prospective Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved outcomes registry.