Research and Reports in Urology (Oct 2018)

Quality of life worsened the most severely in patients immediately after intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer

  • Nakai Y,
  • Tanaka N,
  • Anai S,
  • Miyake M,
  • Asakawa I,
  • Morizawa Y,
  • Hori S,
  • Torimoto K,
  • Fujii T,
  • Hasegawa M,
  • Fujimoto K

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 10
pp. 169 – 180

Abstract

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Yasushi Nakai,1 Nobumichi Tanaka,1 Satoshi Anai,1 Makito Miyake,1 Isao Asakawa,2 Yosuke Morizawa,1 Shunta Hori,1 Kazumasa Torimoto,1 Tomomi Fujii,3 Masatoshi Hasegawa,2 Kiyohide Fujimoto1 1Department of Urology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan; 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan; 3Department of Pathology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the chronological changes in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs), disease-related quality of life (QOL), and health-related QOL (HR-QOL) of patients who received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).Patients and methods: In 121 patients who had received IMRT and were followed up for >2 years, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC), and 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8) were used before IMRT, at the halfway point in IMRT, immediately after IMRT, and 1–24 months after the completion of IMRT.Results: The IPSS and OABSS and the urinary and bowel domains of the EPIC indicated that QOL worsened at the halfway point in IMRT, further worsened more severely immediately after IMRT, and then improved. The sexual domain of the EPIC significantly decreased at the halfway point in IMRT, which significantly lowered until 24 months. The scores of physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, and role emotional domains in the SF-8 significantly decreased and reached their lowest points immediately after IMRT.Conclusion: QOL worsened the most severely in patients immediately after IMRT for prostate cancer. This knowledge can influence treatment recommendations and enable patients to make better informed decisions. Keywords: chronological changes, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, prostate cancer, quality of life, radiotherapy

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