A national study of adverse effects and global quality of life among candidates for curative treatment for prostate cancer

Abstract

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?• Studies comparing adverse effects after different treatment methods are few and lack information on additional treatment and cancer relapse. Some US studies have provided population-based estimates on adverse effects, however, figures from Europe are most often based on mono-institutional experience or multicentre studies from high-volume university-affiliated hospitals with selected patient populations. Few studies have investigated the relationship between presence of urinary, bowel or sexual dysfunction and global quality of life (QoL).• This population-based study investigated real-life practice with regard to prostate cancer in men who were potential candidates for curative treatment, based on high-quality national registry data. Treatment groups of recurrence-free men who completed their treatment or who received no cancer treatment were measured as to adverse effects, global QoL and the association between them. The study shows that each treatment method is associated with distinct patterns of urinary, bowel and sexual dysfunction and that irritative-obstructive urinary symptoms are associated with increased risk of low global QoL. This large survey also investigates the use of medication for erectile dysfunction and the relationship between such use and global QoL. Objectives• To provide population-based estimates of typical adverse effects (AEs), e.g. urinary, bowel and sexual dysfunction, in patients with non-metastatic recurrence-free prostate cancer (PCa) by curative treatment method, including no treatment.• To describe associations between typical AEs and global quality of life (QoL) and to study patients' use of medication for erectile dysfunction (EDmed) and the relationship between such use and global QoL.

Patient-Reported Urinary Incontinence and Erectile Dysfunction Following Radical Prostatectomy: Results from the European Prostate Centre Innsbruck

“…Hence, an increasing number of studies are turning their attention to the harms associated with PSA testing such as overdiagnosis and overtreatment [12,13,14,15], negative effects on the quality of life [16], harms related to subsequent evaluation and therapy [6,17,18] or the investigation of prognostic factors predicting survival in men with prostate cancer [19]. The European Prostate Centre Innsbruck (EPI) at the Department of Urology of Innsbruck Medical University Hospital with a wide experience of PSA testing is especially interested in patient-relevant outcomes after prostate cancer therapy, particularly after radical prostatectomy (RP).…”

Managing Erectile Dysfunction After Cancer: More Than Penile Rigidity

“…2 Voznesensky et al 1 cited one of several recent studies showing that return to baseline erectile function after radical pelvic surgery has been greatly overestimated. [2][3][4] However, they also underestimate rates of ED after pelvic radiation therapy 3,4 and among survivors of hematologic and childhood malignancies.…”

Impact of trait anxiety on psychological well-being in men with prostate cancer

“…In addition, the relationship between post--treatment problems and HRQOL was examined (8). However, despite increased focus on physical problems following those treatments, little attention has been given to related psychological distress.…”

“…Thus, HRQOL measures are an important consideration for deciding treatment. Recently, a number of studies have reported HRQOL in cases of localized PCa with the aim of providing information concerning the potential consequences of treatments (6)(7)(8). However, despite increased focus on disease-specific HRQOL, less attention has been given to the psychological well-being of affected patients.…”