Patient-Reported Hip Symptoms Following Treatment With Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: We investigated patient-reported hip pain, stiffness, and physical function scores following proton therapy (PT) for prostate cancer. Patients and Methods: Between April 2012 and August 2012, men treated ≥18 months earlier with PT for localized prostate cancer were asked to participate in an institutional review board-approved study by answering the Western Ontario and McMaster Index (WOMAC) questionnaire for scoring patient-perceived hip symptoms. The questionnaire was returned by 325 patients treated at our institution; 290 patients completed all 24 questions and are the subject of this study. A higher WOMAC score indicated more problems. Patients had received PT doses ranging from 70-72 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]) at 2.5 Gy (RBE)/fraction or 78-82 Gy (RBE) at 2 Gy (RBE)/fraction using passively scattered protons. Using a Wilcoxon signed rank test, the post-PT normative scores for hip pain, stiffness, and functional difficulty were compared with the averages from gener...