2Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cumhuriyet Faculty of Medicine, Sivas-Turkey DOI : 10.5505/tjo.2020.2240 OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to investigate the radiation-related toxicity and its effects on the quality of life in patients with prostate cancer who received definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy (RT).
METHODS
Eighty-seven localized prostate cancer patients who underwent RT between January 2011 and June 2016
were enrolled. Each patient filled the EORTC QLQC30 and QLQ-PR25 at four different times (starting
and ending at RT, one and six months after RT). EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire consists of global
health status, five functional (physical, role, cognitive, emotional, social) and nine symptom scales (fatigue
nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea and financial difficulties).
EORTC QLQ-PR25 consists of two functional (sexual activity and sexual functioning) and four
symptom scales (urinary, bowel, hormonal treatment-related, incontinence aid).
RESULTS
According to the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire, global health status score (p=0.007), emotional score
(p=0.016), fatigue (p=0.004) and diarrhea score (p=0.003); according to EORTC QLQPR25 questionnaire,
urinary score (p=0.024) were significantly poorer at the end of RT. When patients" quality of life
questionnaires were compared concerning treatment type (definitive vs. adjuvant RT), RT technique
(3D CRT vs. IMRT) and RT field (prostate/prostate+seminal vesicle vs. prostate+seminal vesicle+pelvic
lymph node); EORTC QLQ C-30 and EORTC QLQ PR-25 functional and symptom scales were not different
between groups.
CONCLUSION
The RT approach in prostate cancer produced temporary impairment in some scores of QLQ, but all
these scores showed improvement from the first month after RT.