Quality of life in advanced prostate cancer

Palliation is the principal aim of treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer. In a strict sense, "palliation" means reduction of existing symptoms, but in clinical practice a further goal is to prolong the symptom-free interval in asymptomatic patients and to prevent distressing problems, such as pain and fatigue, with the overall aim of improving quality of life. In patients with advanced prostate cancer, quality of life parameters represent an important endpoint in clinical routine and in clinical trials. Evaluation of quality of life issues also provides independent prognostic information. A feasible approach for regular quality of life assessment is the use of a questionnaire developed for cancer patients together with psychometrically tested disease-specific and treatment-specific modules designed to evaluate the various factors, such as micturition, sexuality, vitality, and intestinal problems for localized prostate cancer, and bone pain, micturition, sexuality, hot flashes, gynecomastia, and gastrointestinal problems for metastatic prostate cancer.