A prospective analysis of patient-reported quality of life after prostate brachytherapy

The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess the patient-reported quality of life (QOL) and changes in QOL during the first 3 months after prostate brachytherapy (PB). Seventy-four men treated with PB between September 1997 and December 1998 completed a QOL questionnaire (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate [FACT-P]) and a measurement of urinary symptoms (International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS]) before treatment (T0), 1 month (T1), and 3 months (T3) following PB. All participants were treated with (125)I alone. The mean score (and standard deviation) at T0, T1, and T3 FACT-P questionnaire are as follows: 139.2 (15.7), 125.4 (20.2), and 133.0 (18.2). For the global test across time, statistically significant differences were observed for the cumulative scores of FACT-P (P < .0001). Examination of the subscales within the FACT-P instrument demonstrated statistically significant changes over time for the following: physical well-being, functional well-being and the prostate cancer subscale. The mean score (and standard deviation) at T0, T1, and T3 for the IPSS questionnaire are as follows: 9.1 (5.9), 20.0 (7.8), and 16.6 (7.2). For the global test across time, statistically significant differences were observed for the IPSS scores (P < .0001). Clinically meaningful decreases in QOL are evident within weeks after PB. Moderate to severe urinary symptoms persist for at least 3 months following PB.