Purpose
Analysis of quality of life changes after radiotherapy with focus on the impact of time after treatment and prescription dose.
Methods
Consecutive patients were treated with doses from 70.2/1.8 Gy (n = 206) to 72/1.8–2.0 Gy (n = 176) in a single centre and surveyed using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite questionnaire.
Results
Urinary and bowel bother scores decreased 1 / 3 / 6 points and 7 / 7 / 9 points on average 1 / 5 / 10 years after RT in comparison to baseline scores. The rate of urinary (need of pads in 8% vs. 15% before vs. 10 years after RT; p = 0.01) and bowel (uncontrolled leakage of stool in 5% vs. 12% before vs. 10 years after RT; p < 0.01) incontinence, as well as rectal bleeding (4% vs. 8% before vs. 10 years after RT; p = 0.05) increased. Sexual function scores decreased (erections sufficient for intercourse in 36% vs. 12% before vs. 10 years after RT; p < 0.01).
A higher dose had a statistically significant impact on urinary bother and stool incontinence, but also tended to decrease urinary continence. Age and comorbidities did not have an influence on score changes, but on baseline urinary function/bother and baseline sexual function.
Conclusion
Apart from an increasing rate of erectile dysfunction, urinary and bowel incontinence rates increased with increasing follow-up period. A higher dose was found to be associated with increased urinary problems and larger stool incontinence rates. Age and comorbidities were found to be relevant for baseline scores, but not for score changes.
patients that signed consent forms and completed the baseline a self-addressed ability to participate in social roles and activities were included in this exploratory analysis. At the time of RT commencement, the mean score of was 16.2 [95%CI 15.675-16.725] .Chemo types (adjuvant chemo vs. no chemo, OR Z 0.935, 95% CI: 0.882-1, p Z 0.036) and chemo regimens (taxane vs. no chemo, OR Z 0.905, 95% CI: 0.84 e 0.978, p Z 0.01) were significantly associated with Ability to participate in social roles and activities at baseline, while age, menopausal status, margin, pathologic stage, and the use of anti-Her2 target therapy were not. Of 148 patients completed questionnaires after therapy, the mean score was 16.0[95%CI 15.464-16.671], which was not significant different from the baseline (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Ability to participate in social roles and activities is generally good in breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy with taxane seemed to be a risk factor for ability to participate in social roles and activities in patients with breast cancer, radiation therapy did not alter this QOL measure. In addition to validate these findings, future study shall investigate the effect of ability to participate in social roles and activities on long-term survival and define approaches of improvement to improve quality of life in patients with breast cancer.
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