OBJECTIVES: Preference values for prostate cancer specific health states vary greatly between studies and are influenced by the method of elicitation and study population. Given the strengths, limitations, and potential for biases of both patient and societal preference values, understanding the magnitude of difference is pertinent for application in cost-effectiveness analysis. The objective of this study was to compare patient preferences with those of the general population for several prostate cancer specific health states.   METHODS: Health state descriptions were developed with attributes that varied across five different health domains pertinent to men with prostate cancer: sexual function, urinary function, bowel function, pain, and emotional well-being. Men with prostate cancer and a representation of the general population (men and women) assigned preferences to 16 health states using a visual analog scale and standard gamble methodology. Study subjects also completed the Health Utilities Index mark 3 (HUI3) to obtain utility values using a generic preference measure.   RESULTS: A total of 84 participants were enrolled (n= 43 prostate cancer; n=41 general population) and completed the health state valuations. The mean age of the men with prostate cancer was 63.4 years (5.46) and 38.8 years (10.7) for the general population group. There was a statistically significant difference in HUI3 current health ratings between groups: men with prostate cancer HUI3: 0.74 (standard error; se=0.23) vs 0.88 (se=0.19) for the general population (p=0.006). The mean standard gamble utility values for the prostate cancer health states ranged from 0.85 to 0.46 among men with prostate cancer and from 0.81 to 0.32 among the non-cancer group.  Two-group mean comparison test did not indicate statistical significance for the 16 health states (p-value: 0.93 - 0.09).  CONCLUSIONS: There were no statistically significant differences in standard gamble valuations of prostate cancer specific health states when comparing the patient perspective with the societal perspective.