Quality of Life in Patients with Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer Managed with Modern Radiotherapy: Impact on Bowel Habit, Sexual Function and Urinary Symptoms

Abstract

<i>Objective</i>: The increase in the diagnosis of tumors in early stages, associated with similar life expectations among the different treatments, create a challenge for both patients and treating doctors when choosing the best therapeutic option. The objective is to assess the impact on the quality of life in the sexual, intestinal and urinary fields in patients with localized prostate cancer who received treatment with modern radiotherapy. <i>Methods</i>: Descriptive observational study in which the validated EPIC-26 and SF-36 surveys were applied in the period between December 2015 and November 2018, in order to assess quality of life in men with localized prostate cancer before and after modern radiation therapy. <i>Results</i>: Surveys were applied to 70 individuals. In the EPIC-26 survey, relevant changes in the quality of life for urinary incontinence were found, with a previous average score of 81.75 (100 - 12.5) versus a subsequent 72.99 (100 - 0). In the SF-36 Health Questionnaire it was found that there is no significant difference in the overall quality of life, with an average score of 77 (99 - 31) and 76.63 (100 - 39.58) respectively. <i>Conclusion</i>: There is a tendency to oversize the impact of radiotherapy on the quality of life when there is a curative intent in patients with localized prostate cancer. Our study only demonstrated a clinically relevant difference in urinary incontinence, which allows us to suggest that most of the alterations in the quality of life could be secondary to natural changes in aging.