DAILY-DIARY EVALUATED SIDE-EFFECTS OF CONFORMAL VERSUS CONVENTIONAL PROSTATIC-CANCER RADIOTHERAPY TECHNIQUE

Conventional 4-field box radiotherapy technique induces high morbidity for patients with localized prostatic cancer. Using a patient daily d iary, the present study compared side-effects after conventional radio therapy with conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Fifty-eight p atients treated with the conventional technique (with or without sucra lfate) were compared with 72 patients treated with conformal technique . The patient groups were compared with an age-matched control populat ion. Patients treated with conformal technique were also evaluated reg arding acute and late urinary problems. Results showed that patients t reated with conformal technique reported significantly fewer side-effe cts as compared with conventional technique. Patients treated with suc ralfate also showed slightly decreased intestinal morbidity in compari son to non-sucralfate group. Acute and late morbidity evaluated by the patients was decreased after conformal radiotherapy as compared with the conventional technique. Sucralfate may be of Value if conformal ra diotherapy is used for dose escalation in prostatic cancer patients.