Premium
Long‐term experience of residual symptoms following treatment for localized prostate cancer: An Australian sample
Author(s) -
WOOTTEN Addie C,
BURNEY Sue,
FRYDENBERG Mark,
FOROUDI Farshad,
NG Kim T,
COLEMAN Grahame
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
asia‐pacific journal of clinical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1743-7563
pISSN - 1743-7555
DOI - 10.1111/j.1743-7563.2007.00134.x
Subject(s) - medicine , prostate cancer , sexual function , prostatectomy , urology , urinary incontinence , prostate , urinary system , radiation therapy , surgery , cancer , gynecology
Aim: To assess the degree of residual urinary and sexual dysfunction experienced by patients treated for localized prostate cancer with radical prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or EBRT plus hormone therapy (EBRT/HT) in an Australian sample. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional survey of 150 patients who had undergone treatment for localized prostate cancer a mean of 4.93 years prior to the study. It was part of a larger study investigating the psychological adjustment of patients and their partners. Fifty‐five patients had undergone RP, 67 patients had undergone EBRT and 28 patients had undergone EBRT/HT for localized prostate cancer. The patients completed the University of California Los Angeles‐prostate cancer index to determine the level of residual sexual and urinary dysfunction and bother as well as their socio‐demographic characteristics. Results: In the RP group, 34.5% of patients reported urinary leakage every day. Only one RP patient (1.8%) reported this as a significant problem. Inability to achieve an erection was reported by 41.8% of the RP group, 34.3% of the EBRT group and 46.4% of the EBRT/HT group. ancova indicated a significant difference in mean urinary function scores across treatment groups. The RP group showed significantly worse urinary function compared to the other treatment groups; however, this was not perceived to be a significant problem by most of the survivors. Age was significantly associated with sexual function. Conclusion: Patients treated for localized prostate cancer face a high probability of living with long‐term residual symptoms. The results of this study suggest that urinary and sexual dysfunction is still evident, even in patients treated more than 4 years ago. The findings are consistent with a growing body of research indicating that patients in the later stages of surviving cancer face significant quality of life issues.