Changes in health-related quality of life in the first year after treatment for prostate cancer: Results from CaPSURE

Objectives, Treatment for prostate cancer has a significant impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We examined HRQOL immediately after diagnosis and treatment and 1 and 2 years after treatment for a cohort of men with early and late-stage prostate cancer. Methods. We studied 692 men enrolled in CaPSURE, a large national observational data base of patients with prostate cancer. General and disease-specific HRQOL were measured with validated instruments at study entry and quarterly thereafter. Individuals were grouped by initial treatment: radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, and observation (ie, no treatment in first year), Trends in HRQOL scores were evaluated immediately after treatment through 2 years, adjusting for age and length of follow-up. Results. Patients who underwent radical prostatectomy demonstrated statistically significant increases in functioning in general and in disease-specific components during the year after treatment when compared with scores immediately after treatment. Patients receiving radiotherapy and hormonal therapy had significant improvements in patient reports of health change during the year. Conclusions. Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy have low HRQOL scores just after treatment in almost all general and disease-specific areas, but at I year there is a sharp improvement. Patients undergoing observation, radiotherapy, or hormonal therapy remain stable over time, Ail treatment groups continue to have decrements in sexual function. UROLOGY 53: 180-186, 1999. (C) 1999, Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.