title: Tobacco smoking and long-lasting symptoms from the bowel and the anal-sphincter region after radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tobacco smoking can cause vascular injury, tissue hypoxia and fibrosis as can ionizing radiation. However, we do not know if tobacco smoking increases the risk of long-term side effects after radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 985 men treated with radiotherapy for prostate cancer between 1993 and 2006. In 2008, long-lasting symptoms appearing after radiotherapy for prostate cancer were assessed through a study-specific questionnaire as were smoking habits and demographic factors of all these men. In the questionnaire the prostate-cancer survivors were asked to report symptom occurrence the previous six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We obtained information on tobacco smoking from 836 of the 985 prostate-cancer survivors with a median time to follow-up of six years (range 2-14 years). The prevalence ratio of defecation urgency among current smokers compared to never smokers was 1.6 (95% CI 1.2-2.2). Corresponding prevalence ratio for diarrhea was 2.8 (95% CI 1.2-6.5), the sensation of bowel not completely emptied after defecation 2.1 (95% CI 1.3-3.3) and for sudden emptying of all stools into clothing without forewarning 4.7 (95% CI 2.3-9.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tobacco smoking among prostate-cancer survivors treated with radiotherapy increases the risk of certain long-lasting symptoms from the bowel and anal-sphincter region.
authors: Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden. david.alsadius@oncology.gu.se
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Alsadius
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Hedelin
authors: Karl-Axel
authors: KA
authors: Johansson
authors: Niclas
authors: N
authors: Pettersson
authors: Ulrica
authors: U
authors: Wilderäng
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Lundstedt
authors: Gunnar
authors: G
authors: Steineck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*