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Health‐related quality of life in patients with screen‐detected versus clinically diagnosed prostate cancer preceding primary treatment
Author(s) -
Madalinska J.B.,
EssinkBot M.L.,
de Koning H.J.,
Kirkels W.J.,
van der Maas P.J.,
Schröder F.H.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0045(20010201)46:2<87::aid-pros1012>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - medicine , prostatectomy , prostate cancer , quality of life (healthcare) , radiation therapy , stage (stratigraphy) , cancer , population , prostate , urinary system , medical record , paleontology , nursing , environmental health , biology
Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate baseline health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with localized prostate cancer before primary treatment (radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy). Methods Two hundred patients with newly diagnosed localized (screen‐detected or clinically diagnosed) prostate cancer completed HRQOL questionnaires (generic and disease‐specific measures). Clinical data were collected from patients’ medical records in four Rotterdam hospitals. Results Screen‐detected tumors were of more favorable stages and grades than clinically diagnosed ones. The diagnostic groups did not differ significantly in bowel and sexual functioning. Differences were found in urinary functioning, favoring patients with screen‐detected tumors of T2–T3 stages. Patients with screen‐detected T2 cancer reported better generic HRQOL (physical aspects) than the clinical group, but HRQOL of the latter group was similar to the population norm. Radiotherapy patients were significantly older and had more comorbidity than subjects referred to prostatectomy. Urinary, bowel, and sexual problems were uncommon. Older (> 65 years) radiotherapy patients appeared to be less sexually active. Radiotherapy patients also reported poorer levels of generic HRQOL. Conclusions Screen‐detected prostate cancer patients presented with more favorable cancer stage and grade. HRQOL was related to both the tumor stage and the detection method. Pre‐treatment HRQOL differences between prostatectomy and radiotherapy patients were associated neither with tumor characteristics nor with the detection method. Baseline differences in HRQOL should be taken into account when evaluating post‐treatment HRQOL. Prostate 46:87–97, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.