Acute morbidity of radiation therapy for prostate carcinoma

The acute morbidity of high dose radiation therapy for carcinoma of the prostate in a group of 169 patients treated between February 1993 and April 1994 was examined. Morbidity was determined at the start of therapy, then weekly during therapy and at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months after therapy. Morbidity was examined from the view of the treating doctor and the patients. Morbidity was found to peak at the end of the treatment. From the radiation oncologist's perspective, 80-85% of patients experienced significant bladder and bowel morbidity. The level of acute morbidity was acceptable and there was only one patient that was admitted to hospital for symptomatic control of his acute reaction. Recovery was practically complete after 3 months for both bladder and bowel morbidity. Fifty per cent of patients experienced dysuria, 75% perianal discomfort and 87% frequency at the end of the treatment. Most of the individual factors recovered following radiation but urinary frequency and perianal discomfort were the most persistent problems.