EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-PR25 — tools for assessing the quality of life of men suffering from prostate cancer

Abstract

Introduction and objective. The assessment of the quality of life in cancer patients has become an indispensable element of clinical trials of applications of new treatments and surgical variants and springs from a desire to achieve therapeutic success in various aspects of patients’ lives. This article aims to present and describe the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire, used for assessing the quality of life, and the complementary EORTC QLQ-PR25 questionnaire, which is used in cases of prostate cancer. Brief description of the current state of knowledge. Cancer diagnoses lead to psychological, physical, emotional, and economic burdens which can have a great effect on the quality of life. The cancer population is increasing from year to year, creating many challenges for healthcare systems. In Poland, prostate cancer accounts for 19.6% of all diagnosed cancers in the male population, thus presenting a growing trend. The multiplicity of possible treatment methods and increasing interest in the quality-of-life assessment means that proper choice of treatment depends in part on the results of clinical trials which evaluate the quality of life among patients being treated by specific methods. For such assessment, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer has developed a questionnaire assessing the impact of disease on different aspects of patients’ lives, as well as supplementary questionnaires for particular types of cancer. Conclusion. The application of standardized questionnaires for the assessment of the quality of life among cancer patients is becoming an integral part of clinical trials, which, along with other factors, may help in the selection of the most appropriate treatment methods.