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Title: Health-Related Quality of Life up to Six Years After {sup 125}I Brachytherapy for Early-Stage Prostate Cancer

Journal Article · · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics
;  [1];  [2]; ;  [3]
  1. Department of Urology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht (Netherlands)
  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, M. D. Anderson Medical Center, Houston, TX (United States)
  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht (Netherlands)

Purpose: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after prostate brachytherapy has been extensively described in published reports but hardly any long-term data are available. The aim of the present study was to prospectively assess long-term HRQOL 6 years after {sup 125}I prostate brachytherapy. Methods and Materials: A total of 127 patients treated with {sup 125}I brachytherapy for early-stage prostate cancer between December 2000 and June 2003 completed a HRQOL questionnaire at five time-points: before treatment and 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 6 years after treatment. The questionnaire included the RAND-36 generic health survey, the cancer-specific European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer core questionnaire (EORTCQLQ-C30), and the tumor-specific EORTC prostate cancer module (EORTC-PR25). A change in a score of >=10 points was considered clinically relevant. Results: Overall, the HRQOL at 6 years after {sup 125}I prostate brachytherapy did not significantly differ from baseline. Although a statistically significant deterioration in HRQOL at 6 years was seen for urinary symptoms, bowel symptoms, pain, physical functioning, and sexual activity (p <.01), most changes were not clinically relevant. A statistically significant improvement at 6 years was seen for mental health, emotional functioning, and insomnia (p <.01). The only clinically relevant changes were seen for emotional functioning and sexual activity. Conclusion: This is the first study presenting prospective HRQOL data up to 6 years after {sup 125}I prostate brachytherapy. HRQOL scores returned to approximately baseline values at 1 year and remained stable up to 6 years after treatment. {sup 125}I prostate brachytherapy did not adversely affect patients' long-term HRQOL.

OSTI ID:
21372159
Journal Information:
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Vol. 76, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2009.03.045; PII: S0360-3016(09)00509-4; Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; ISSN 0360-3016
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English