Quality of life, voiding and sexual function of penile cancer patients: DaPeCa‐10—a cross‐sectional questionnaire survey

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To assess prevalence of voiding and sexual symptoms and quality of life in penile cancer patients. Methods From 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2015, we approached three separate groups of Danish penile cancer patients and asked them to complete a face‐validated questionnaire at diagnosis (Group 1), after 1 year (Group 2) and after 2 years (Group 3). We analysed symptom prevalence and bother and quality of life items and explored differences between groups. Results In total, we analysed 157 questionnaires. The response rates at diagnosis, after 1 year and after 2 years were 29%, 46% and 30%. The pad use (p = 0.001) and occurrence of nocturia twice a night or more (p = 0.006) was significantly decreasing 2 years after treatment. There was an increasing trend in sexual thoughts and importance of sexuality from 1 to 2 years after treatment, but the proportion of patients reporting a frequency of orgasm at more than once in the past 6 months was significantly decreasing after treatment (p = 0.03). Likewise, the trend for erectile dysfunction worsened after treatment with 49% of patients reporting an erection never sufficient for intercourse at diagnosis increasing to 62% after 1 year and 69% after 2 years. We observed trends towards lower self‐esteem with increasingly mutilating treatment. Conclusion Pad use, nocturia and frequency of orgasm were significantly reduced after penile cancer treatment. We observed trends towards lower self‐esteem with increasingly mutilating treatment and increase in erectile dysfunction after treatment.

Keywords

• penile cancer
• quality of life
• sexual life
• voiding symptoms