Brazilian Journal of Oncology (Dec 2023)
Impact of advanced prostatic cancer treatment on quality of life and sexual function
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The studying the quality of life after cancer treatment has become a priority in oncology. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of different treatments for recurrence prostate cancer on quality of life and sexual activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred patients with recurrence prostate cancer after initial treatment were distributed into four groups according to the following protocol: group 1 - open prostatectomy and androgen deprivation hormone therapy; group 2 - open prostatectomy combined with radiotherapy and androgen deprivation hormone therapy; group 3 - androgen deprivation hormone therapy alone; and group 4 - radiotherapy combined with androgen deprivation hormone therapy. All patients answered two questionnaires validated for Brazil related to the quality of life, the European Quality of Life Questionnaire and the International Index of Erectile Function. The presence of urinary tract infection, hematuria, hematochezia, urinary incontinence, and urethral stricture after the treatments were also investigated. The adverse effects reported in the four groups following the treatments were statistically compared and significance was considered indicated by p-values of <0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed worse mobility and self-care, greater limitations of usual activities, and a higher incidence of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction in patients who underwent prostatectomy. All these adverse effects were worse when the surgical procedure was associated with radiotherapy and androgen deprivation hormone therapy. CONCLUSION: Prostatectomy is associated with complications, which are responsible for a worse quality of life due to mobility limitations, difficulty in self-care, urinary incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. All these adversities worsen when the surgery is combined with radiotherapy and androgen deprivation hormone therapy.
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