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Definition |
Increased life expectancy in PCa makes post-treatment QoL a key issue. Health-related QoL (HRQoL) refers to the impact of disease and treatment on well-being and physical, emotional and social functioning, including daily functioning. HRQoL is rated by patients, and is important because physicians often underestimate the impact of disease and treatment on patients. PCa-specific HRQoL refers to the disease-specific outcome of PCa, including urinary, bowel and sexual functioning. General HRQoL refers to well-being, vitality, fatigue, pain, general health status, global QoL, and life satisfaction. HRQoL is measured using standardised questionnaires, which provide an objective assessment of general and disease-specific domains. Comparison of the most common contemporary therapies for localised PCa is necessary to inform patients about treatment options and address patient preferences for the various possible outcomes. There is still limited objective data about HRQoL in PCa treatment.
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