Open Access

REVIEW

Toxicity and health-related quality-of-life assessment in prostate radiotherapy

George Rodrigues^1,2, Michael Lock¹, David D’Souza¹

1 Department of Radiation Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, London, Ontario, Canada
2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
Address correspondence to Dr. George Rodrigues, Department of Radiation Oncology, London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario N6A 4L6 Canada

Canadian Journal of Urology 2007, 14(4), 3608-3615.

Abstract

The use of radiation therapy in the radical treatment of prostate cancer can lead to potential acute and long-term toxicity and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) changes. Ongoing investigation into dose-escalation, dose-per-fraction escalation, new radiation treatment technology/ paradigms, and novel systemic therapy may have either positive and/or negative effects on normal tissue toxicity/ HRQoL. Herein, common toxicity scales and HRQoL instruments that attempt to describe the deleterious effects of prostate radiation therapy are reviewed.

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Keywords

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