Urinary, sexual, and bowel dysfunction and bother after radical prostatectomy

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Radical prostatectomy (RP) leads to significant urinary, sexual, and bowel dysfunction compared to other prostate cancer treatments.
• These physical side effects cause bother, defined as annoyance or discomfort, impacting quality of life post-treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the connection between post-RP urinary, sexual, and bowel dysfunction and the bother experienced by patients.
• To identify which physical dysfunction causes the most significant bother after radical prostatectomy.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 72 men was conducted 6 weeks after undergoing radical prostatectomy.
• Validated instruments measured self-efficacy, social support, uncertainty, and physical function/bother (UCLA Prostate Cancer Index).

Main Results:

• Sexual dysfunction presented with the highest prevalence among side effects following RP.
• Urinary dysfunction, specifically incontinence, was identified as the most bothersome physical issue.

Conclusions:

• Men undergoing RP prioritize survival benefits over potential physical dysfunction without fully understanding the associated bother.
• Informing patients about the persistent nature of physical symptoms and their associated bother after RP is crucial for managing expectations.