Health-related quality of life up to six years after (125)I brachytherapy for early-stage prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after prostate brachytherapy has been extensively described in published reports but hardly any long-term data are available. The aim of the present study was to prospectively assess long-term HRQOL 6 years after (125)I prostate brachytherapy.


METHODS
A total of 127 patients treated with (125)I brachytherapy for early-stage prostate cancer between December 2000 and June 2003 completed a HRQOL questionnaire at five time-points: before treatment and 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 6 years after treatment. The questionnaire included the RAND-36 generic health survey, the cancer-specific European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer core questionnaire (EORTCQLQ-C30), and the tumor-specific EORTC prostate cancer module (EORTC-PR25). A change in a score of >/=10 points was considered clinically relevant.


RESULTS
Overall, the HRQOL at 6 years after (125)I prostate brachytherapy did not significantly differ from baseline. Although a statistically significant deterioration in HRQOL at 6 years was seen for urinary symptoms, bowel symptoms, pain, physical functioning, and sexual activity (p <.01), most changes were not clinically relevant. A statistically significant improvement at 6 years was seen for mental health, emotional functioning, and insomnia (p <.01). The only clinically relevant changes were seen for emotional functioning and sexual activity.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study presenting prospective HRQOL data up to 6 years after (125)I prostate brachytherapy. HRQOL scores returned to approximately baseline values at 1 year and remained stable up to 6 years after treatment. (125)I prostate brachytherapy did not adversely affect patients' long-term HRQOL.
Roeloffzen
Ellen M A
EM
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584 CX, The Netherlands. E.M.A.Roeloffzen@UMCUtrecht.nl
Lips
Irene M
IM
van Gellekom
Marion P R
MP
van Roermund
Joep
J
Frank
Steven J
SJ
Battermann
Jan J
JJ
van Vulpen
Marco
M
D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes