Session Item

To evaluate the quality of life in patients with localized prostate cancer treated with a definitive radiotherapy (RT) using EORTC QLQ-C30 and -PR25 questionnaires.

In this prospective study, 96 patients with localized prostate cancer were included from Sep. 2019 to Sep. 2021. The most of them (83 patients) were treated with a hypofractionated RT of prostate (60 Gy with 3 Gy single dose), eight patients were treated with normofractionated RT with 70 - 76 Gy dose and five with ultra-hypofractionated RT (5 x 7.25 Gy, 3 fractions per week). EORTC QLQ-C30 and -PR25 questionnaires were fulfilled before RT, on the last day of RT, three months after RT and one year after RT, respectively. Diverse functional scores (100 for the best and 0 for the worst function) and symptom scores (100 for the strongest and 0 for no symptoms) were calculated at each time point. Moreover, the changes of these scores were evaluated. 

In general, QLQ-C30 and -PR25 functional scores before RT were satisfactory except sexual activity, probably due to the old age (median 78). QLQ-C30 and –PR25 symptom scores were low, except fatigue, insomnia and urinary symptoms.

At RT end, there was a slight to moderate decline of all functional scores and an increase of all symptom scores, except financial difficulties (FD), which stayed stable.

Three months after RT, nausea/vomiting, dyspnoe and FD stayed stable and hormonal treatment-related symptoms (HTR) went even worse, while the other functional and symptom scores recovered partially (pain, diarrhoea and bowel symptoms) or totally for the left items.

One year after RT, several scores (role and emotional function, constipation) were improved over their baselines, while HTR and sexual function further worsened. Pain, diarrhoea and bowel symptoms remained partially recovered, compared to the baselines. 

Definitive radiotherapy of prostate cancer caused a decline of quality of life with a maximum at the RT end. The majority of symptoms and functions recovered three months after RT, which extended to one year after RT. Several items were even improved over their baselines while two items of sexual function remained worsened.