The present study evaluated the quality of life and adverse effects for patients younger than 60 with prostate cancer following proton therapy. The main findings were that young prostate cancer patients treated with proton therapy have great outcomes with respect to urinary and sexual function.
The prostate is a small gland only found in men that has the main function of helping to produce semen. It is located between the penis and the bladder and it surrounds the urethra (the tube that crosses the penis and carries urine from the bladder). Prostate cancer (PC) can be treated by surgery, radiation or hormone therapy. All of these treatment methods carry the risk of significant side effects on the surrounding organs such as loss of sexual desire, erectile dysfunction (the inability to obtain or maintain an erection) or urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control). Proton therapy (PT) is a type of radiotherapy that delivers the radiation dosage more precisely to the cancer and less to the surrounding healthy tissues such as the bladder and genitals.
The study included 262 men with PC aged 60 or less without prior hormone therapy who were treated with proton therapy alone. The parameters such as sexual, urinary and bowel function were measured through a questionnaire. After 2 years sexual function declined by 11% and only 1.8% of patients required a pad for urge incontinence. However, 94% of men were able to engage in sexual intercourse.
In summary, young men undergoing proton therapy for prostate cancer have great outcomes with respect to erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.
A limitation of this study is that it is based on a questionnaire which is a subjective method. Also, further studies are needed to evaluate these parameters on a period longer than 2 years to confirm long-term outcomes.
Published By :
Cancer
Date :
Sep 15, 2012
