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 healt h-related quality of life (HRQOL). We examined HRQOL immediately after diag nosis and treatment and 1 and 2 years after treatment for a cohort of men w ith early and late-stage prostate cancer. Methods. We studied 692 men enrolled in CaPSURE, a large national observati onal data base of patients with prostate cancer. General and disease-specif ic HRQOL were measured with validated instruments at study entry and quarte rly thereafter. Individuals were grouped by initial treatment: radical pros tatectomy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, and observation (ie, no treatmen t in first year), Trends in HRQOL scores were evaluated immediately after t reatment through 2 years, adjusting for age and length of follow-up. Results. Patients who underwent radical prostatectomy demonstrated statisti cally significant increases in functioning in general and in disease-specif ic components during the year after treatment when compared with scores imm ediately after treatment. Patients receiving radiotherapy and hormonal ther apy had significant improvements in patient reports of health change during the year. Conclusions. Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy have low HRQOL score s just after treatment in almost all general and disease-specific areas, bu t at I year there is a sharp improvement. Patients undergoing observation, radiotherapy, or hormonal therapy remain stable over time, Ail treatment gr oups continue to have decrements in sexual function. UROLOGY 53: 180-186, 1 999. (C) 1999, Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.