QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of radical prostatectomy on the quality of life (QOL) in patients with prostate cancer, we assessed the responses of 12 patients to a self-administered questionnaire 6-95 months (median 36 months) postoperatively. The QOL assessment focused on urinary disturbance, urinary incontinence and sexual function, which seem to be the major issues in deciding whether to perform radical prostatectomy.IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) for urinary disturbance was 3 points and a satisfactory grade was 2 points. Items reflecting irritative symptom were predominant, but no replies were very severe. Postoperative urination was good on the whole.In regard to incontinence, 58% reported some problem with wetness. Judging from the number of incidents of incontinence per day, the frequency of pad changes and impression of present status, the condition of two patients seemed to be serious, but their daily activities were not restricted. We therefore concluded that QOL about continence were not disturbed as a whole.As for sexual function, since many patients were on adjuvant hormonal treatment, we could not evaluate sexual function in detail. But 57% of all were dissatisfied with their postoperative sexual function, so our results were concluded not to be sufficient.