QUALITY OF LIFE OUTCOMES AFTER BRACHYTHERAPY FOR EARLY STAGE PROSTATE CANCER

Abstract

At an average of 7.5 months after treatment the general health related quality of life of patients undergoing brachytherapy with and without pretreatment external beam radiation was similar to age matched controls, although urinary, bowel and sexual problems were reported. These problems appeared to improve during the first year after treatment. Much of the impairment in disease specific health related quality of life among patients undergoing brachytherapy may be attributed to pretreatment radiation.