QALIPRO: Long-term quality of life in patients treated for localized prostate cancer. A general population study.

Introduction: Given the increasing number of patients surviving long-term after prostate cancer and the range of treatment options, all of which may lead to side effects, this study evaluated health-related quality of life 10 years after treatment in patients with localized prostate cancer, compared with age-matched controls. Method: The patient population was drawn from cancer registries; controls were recruited from the general population and matched by age. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure quality of life, anxiety, and fatigue. Patients were classified into three groups based on their initial treatment: radical prostatectomy (RP), radiation therapy (RT), and combined treatment (RP+RT). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed in patients compared to controls and by treatment. Results: There were no sociodemographic differences between patients and controls (N=287). They had similar levels of overall HRQoL, anxiety-depression, and fatigue. Regardless of treatment, patients reported more urinary disorders (function and incontinence) (p<0.0001) and sexual dysfunction (p<0.0001) than controls. Groups treated with RT (alone or combined with surgery) had more functional bowel disorders (p<0.0001 and p=0.002), but only those in the PR+RT group reported bowel discomfort. The PR groups had the most urinary disorders (all p<0.01), and the PR+RT groups reported the most intestinal discomfort. Conclusion: Ten years after treatment, patients have an overall QoL comparable to that of controls, but they experience more urinary and sexual dysfunction. Patients who received combination therapy have cumulative sequelae.

Author(s): Guizard AV, Kerleau C, Daubisse L, Grosclaude P, Joly F, Réseau Français des Registres de Cancer

Publishing year: 2016

Pages: 720-9

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2016, n° 39-40, p. 720-9

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