Health-Related Quality of Life and Sexual Function in Patients Treated for Penile Cancer

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the impact of primary surgery, partial and total penectomy, and of inguinal lymphadenectomy on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the sexual function of penile cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We invited 15 patients surgically treated for penile cancer in the Regional Hospital of Specialized Medicine of the Yucatan Peninsula between 2012 and 2016 to complete the SF-36 quality of life and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) sexual function questionnaires. We evaluated the impact of primary surgery type and inguinal lymphadenectomy on the outcome of HRQoL and sexual function. Results: A total of 10 patients (66%) completed the SF-36 questionnaire. Surgery type and extent of resection were overall not associated significantly with worse outcomes on the assessed domains of quality of life. However, men treated with partial penectomy reported significantly more pain (p = 0.0547) than men treated with total penectomy. Similarly, men who underwent lymphadenectomy reported significantly more pain (p = 0.0547) than those who were spared from the procedure due to the ­primary tumor´s stage and grade. Sexual function was severely affected (IIEF mean = 6.5) in patients treated with partial penectomy. Conclusions: Although partial penectomy and lymphadenectomy were significantly associated with more postoperative pain, no differences were observed in other HRQoL domains. Sexual function was severely affected in patients treated with partial penectomy.