title: Health-related quality of life using intensity-modulated radiation therapy for post-prostatectomy radiotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Post-prostatectomy radiotherapy (PPRT) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has the potential to decrease toxicity by reducing dose to surrounding structures. We assessed its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
  
  
  METHODS
  PPRT patients were enrolled in a prospective HRQoL database. To be eligible, patients were required to be treated with IMRT and have a minimum of 15-month follow up. HRQoL was assessed at baseline, 3, 9 and 15-24 months using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite questionnaire. Higher scores reflected better HRQoL. Results were analysed as both population means and as individual scores where a moderate change was 10-20 points and a substantial change was >20 points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 64 patients eligible and 83% of the cohort received salvage radiotherapy. Prescribed dose was 64 Gy in 32 fractions for adjuvant and 66 Gy in 33 fractions for salvage IMRT. Mean function scores for urinary, bowel and sexual domains were similar at baseline and 15 months (83.5, 94.2 and 16.9 vs. 82.2, 93.1 and 14.3, respectively). Mean global physical functioning (51.0 vs. 48.1) and mental functioning (51.6 vs. 54.2) showed no difference over time. Individual patient scores by 2 years showed a >20-point deterioration in urinary (12.5%), bowel (1.6%), sexual function (9.4%), physical functioning (3.1%) and mental functioning (1.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report on HRQoL following post-prostatectomy IMRT demonstrates no variation in mean scores in any domain and only 1.6% of patients reporting a greater than 20-point deterioration between baseline and 15-24 months in bowel function.
authors: Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Kirsten L
authors: KL
authors: van Gysen
authors: Andrew B
authors: AB
authors: Kneebone
authors: Linxin
authors: L
authors: Guo
authors: Kenneth J
authors: KJ
authors: Vaux
authors: Enzo M
authors: EM
authors: Lazzaro
authors: Thomas N
authors: TN
authors: Eade
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome