Quality of life among men treated with brachytherapy for prostate cancer.(Research)

Publication: Urologic Nursing

Publication Date: 01-APR-04

Bookmark this article Print this article Link to this article Email this article Digg It! Add to del.icio.us RSS

COPYRIGHT 2004 Jannetti Publications, Inc.

Brachytherapy, the implantation of permanent radiation sources into the transperineal area, is being used with increasing frequency as treatment for localized prostate cancer. In this study, men undergoing brachytherapy evaluated their quality of life (QoL) before and after treatment. Brachytherapy affects QoL within the domains of emotional well-being and specific prostate concerns. Knowledge of the treatment effects on QoL will assist nursing staff working with patients faced with treatment decisions for prostate cancer.

Introduction

Men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer have many treatment options from which to choose. Frequently they are presented as equivalent treatment options to patients, yet each therapy has side effects that may affect an individual's quality of life (QoL).

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to allow men with localized prostate cancer who were treated with brachytherapy to self-evaluate QoL before and after treatment.

Method

A longitudinal survey design was used to examine QoL in 58 men who underwent brachytherapy as treatment for their localized prostate cancer. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) instrument was used to collect data before treatment, and at 3, 6, and 12-month intervals after treatment.

Results

A statistically significant difference was identified within the emotional well-being and the specific prostate concerns subscales of the FACT-P.

Conclusions

Brachytherapy, as a treatment for localized prostate cancer, affects the QoL in men. However, further research is needed to examine the impact of brachytherapy, and other therapies for localized disease, 2 to 5 years after initial treatment. Knowledge of the treatment effects on QoL is necessary for individuals to make informed decisions.

**********

Prostate cancer occurs in one in five males making it the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. An estimated 220,900 new cases were diagnosed in the United States in 2003 (American Cancer Society, 2003). Currently, 57% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed while still localized where the 5-year relative survival rate is 98% (Parker, Tong, Bolden, & Wingo, 1999).

The treatment of localized prostate cancer is highly controversial, with many treatment options for management. Each treatment option demonstrates similar survival curves (National Institutes of Health, 1987); frequently they are presented as equivalent treatment options to patients. Previous research has examined the side effects of treatment, yet these studies do not represent the impact of these side effects for the individual (Faithfull, 1995).

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to allow men with localized prostate cancer who were treated with brachytherapy to self-evaluate quality of life (QoL) before and after treatment.

Literature Review

Brachytherapy, the implantation of...

Read the full article for free courtesy of your local library.