131 patients treated by radical prostatectomy for localized prostatic cancer were studied with regard to quality of life. The patient's perception of his state of health before operation and 3, 6, 12 and 18 months later was assessed by questionnaires on 272 occasions. In the short term the patients complained of anxiety, voiding disorders, and loss of potency. In the long term only distress due to lack of erection persisted, but the overall well-being after 18 months was nevertheless better than before treatment.