Table 2.

DA value clarification exercises (VCEs).

Step 2: Curative treatment versus active surveillance
Topic	Reasons for active surveillance	Reasons for treatment
Acceptance of deferring treatment	I am confident enough that I will be treated on time	I do not want to postpone treatment because I do not want to be too late
Avoiding possible unnecessary treatment	If treatment might be unnecessary, I would rather wait	I prefer treatment even if it might be unnecessary
Acceptance of treatment side-effects	I find possible treatment side effects like erectile and urinary dysfunctions difficult to accept	I find the possible treatment side effects acceptable
Step 3: Surgery versus radiotherapy
Topic	Reasons for surgery	Reasons for radiotherapy
Treatment procedure	I find it important that all cancer cells are removed from my body	I find it important that the cancer cells die and not grow further
Treatment side-effects	I find bowel problems worse than incontinence	I find incontinence worse than bowel problems
Secondary treatment	I am comforted by the thought that I can have radiation if surgery is unsuccessful	I accept that surgery is difficult after radiation
Fear for surgery	I am not anxious about surgery	I am anxious about surgery

DA: decision aid.