A PILOT SURVEY OF SEXUAL FUNCTION AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE FOLLOWING 3D CONFORMAL RADIOTHERAPY FOR CLINICALLY LOCALIZED PROSTATE-CANCER

Purpose: To assess the impact of high dose three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT) for prostate cancer on the sexual function-rela ted Quality of life of patients and their partners. Methods and Materi als: Sixty of 124 consecutive patients (median age 72.3 years) treated with 3D CRT for localized prostate cancer were surveyed and reported being potent prior to treatment. The answers to survey questions asses sing the impact of quality of life related to sexual function from the se 60 patients and their partners forms the basis for this retrospecti ve analysis. Results: Following 3D CRT, 37 of 60 patients (62%) retain ed sexual function sufficient for intercourse. Intercourse at least on ce per month was reduced from 71 to 40%, whereas intercourse less than once per year increased from 12 to 35%. Following treatment, 25% of p atients reported that the change in sexual dysfunction negatively affe cted their relationship or resulted in poor self-esteem. This outcome was associated with impotence following treatment (p < 0.01). Patients who had partners and satisfactory sexual function appeared to be at a higher risk of having a negatively affected relationship or losing se lf-esteem if they become impotent (p < 0.05). Partners of patients who reported a negatively affected relationship or loss of self-esteem ap pear to be less likely to return the survey instrument used (p = 0.02) . Conclusions: More work is needed to evaluate the impact of radiother apy and other treatments on the quality of life of patients and their partners to allow adequate informed consent to be given.