Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de pacientes com câncer de próstata submetidos à radioterapia

Abstract

Introduction: specific age involvement, chronicity and therapeutic multimodality are characteristics of prostate cancer that require investigation and surveillance of aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQol). The study of domains contributes to the analysis of interventions in prostate cancer especially when HRQol is in divergence to survival gain. Objective: To investigate the health-related quality of life of patients with prostate cancer in radiotherapy alone (VMAT) or adjuvence in a care unit in the city of Manaus. Method: This is a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach with the application of a socioeconomic/clinical questionnaire and the European Organization for Researchand Treatment of Cancer Qualityof Life Questionnaire "Core" 30 items (EORTC-QLQ-C30). The sample studied consisted of 21 men with prostate cancer in radiotherapy who were predominantly elderly in tumor stage II. One third of these patients observed underwent prostatectomy prior to radiotherapy. Results: In the clinical survey, hypertension and sexual dysfunction were the most frequent conditions. When assessing HRQoL, social function presented better results and emotional function revealed the highest negative impact with lower mean score. In the symptom scale, the most affected domain was constipation with higher mean and median. There was an association with statistical significance between the intervals of radiotherapy doses and the scale of loss of appetite, especially in high doses (1100 cGy – 12000 cGy). The loss of appetite domain also showed a positive correlation with the age variable. Conclusion: The identification of critical health conditions and quality of life domains such as sexual dysfunction, social function, constipation and loss of appetite reinforce these aspects as objects of etiological studies and therapeutic effectiveness. In addition, they assist clinical practice by increasing evidence by promoting therapeutic decision-making as well as interventions to control paraeffects.