The Effects Of Pelvic Radiotherapy On Long Term Cancer Survivors: Symptom Profile, Psychological Morbidity And Quality Of Life

Radiotherapy to the pelvic area is a common treatment for prostate, gynaecological, rectal, anal and bladder cancers. Around 17,000 people are treated each year in the UK. A good understanding of the long term and late effects of treatments is needed to inform ways of maximising the quality of life of cancer survivors. To estimate the prevalence of late effects of pelvic radiotherapy in a sample of long term cancer survivors, and to assess the impact of time since treatment on symptom prevalence. To explore the relationship between symptoms, psychological morbidity and quality of life. Questionnaire study to a random sample of cancer survivors who had pelvic radiotherapy 2- 10 years previously in Oxford. The questionnaire measured patient-reported toxicity (CTCAE), psychological morbidity (HADS) and quality of life (EORTC QLQ-30). We received 418 completed questionnaires (RR = 55.6%). Moderate /severe problems in relation to bowel urgency (59% females, 45% males), urine urgency (49% females, 46% males) and ability to have a sexual relationship (24% females, 53% males) were commonly reported. Symptoms were just as frequent in those 6-10 years post-treatment as in those 2-5 years post-treatment. Symptom severity was associated with poorer overall quality of life, and higher levels of depression. Persistent effects are common amongst long term cancer survivors who have had pelvic radiotherapy, and are associated with reduced quality of life and psychological morbidity. It is imperative due attention is paid to this issue during the follow-up phase -- both in secondary and primary care.