Health-related quality of life and morbidity in patients receiving brachytherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer.
Health-related quality of life must be a factor when treatment options are discussed with a patient. Quality of life is measured by validated questionnaires that include generic and disease-targeted measures. Urinary and rectal symptoms and sexual function are evaluated after treatment for prostate cancer. Quality of life is adversely affected in the early post-brachytherapy period primarily by the urinary morbidity. Urinary symptoms peak 2 months after treatment and decline thereafter, although severe long-term urinary toxicity occurs in 3% to 12% of patients. Urinary symptoms are generally treated with alpha-blocker and anticholinergic drugs, but 2% to 5% of patients require transurethral resection of the prostate to relieve persistent obstruction. However, 6 months after treatment, overall satisfaction is excellent, and the majority of patients would recommend the procedure to a friend.
Division of Urologic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
J S
JS
Krumholtz
J M
JM
Michalski
C P
CP
Sundaram
D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology