Quality of life in patients undergoing bacille Calmette-Guérin therapy for superficial bladder cancer.

Abstract

To determine the impact of post-operative education about bladder cancer and topical immunotherapy on the physical, psychological and social well-being of patients with superficial bladder cancer. Eighty-five patients (mean age 59 years, range 26-85, 64 men and 21 women) receiving topical immunotherapy were questioned during the initial cycle of treatment and during maintenance therapy with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Patients completed a questionnaire on their quality of life when they commenced treatment and twice more during maintenance therapy. Psychological distress and physical symptoms were intense when the diagnosis of bladder cancer was revealed to the patients, despite the knowledge that this cancer is usually curable. The overall quality of life, condition of health and sexual activity were mostly only moderate, were poor during initial therapy and better during 3-monthly maintenance therapy. In general, the quality of life of these patients is characterized by the disruption of their lifestyle and marked by change in their circumstances. It is the responsibility of the urologist to take the necessary time to educate, comfort and motivate such patients with superficial bladder cancer.