Quality of life and sexual function following surgery for rectal cancer

The last 20 years have seen enormous strides forward in the treatment of rectal cancer with the development of improved surgical technique, tumour staging, histopathological audit and multidisciplinary team (MDT) management with emphasis on improving survival and reducing local recurrence rates. However, each rectal cancer discussed at the MDT meeting involves an individual patient. The quality of life for each patient must be taken into account when making treatment decisions, which sometimes may not fit with ‘standard’ treatment guidelines as the individual patient does not have a ‘standard’ tumour. For one patient with a tumour 5 cm above the anal verge, a low anterior resection may maintain quality of life with no incontinence and preservation of urinary and sexual function. For another with a tumour at the same level, preoperative chemo‐radiotherapy may exacerbate mild incontinence and a low resection may result in a ‘perineal stoma’. A decision to perform an abdomino‐perineal excision (APE) must not be considered a failure of surgical treatment or be seen as a suboptimal centre by having a high APE rate. On the contrary, APE rates should represent sub‐specialization and patient selection. Indeed, good function from a permanent stoma may be better than bad function from a poorly functioning coloanal pouch. Having improved tumour staging, surgical technique, oncological treatment and histopathological assessment, quality of life must not be forgotten. Both quality and quantity of life are important to all patients.     

达芬奇机器人手术系统在妇科肿瘤的临床应用

机器人手术作为一个创新微创手术方法已经越来越多的应用于妇科领域。与传统的腹腔镜手术系统相比,其主要的优势为达芬奇机器人手术系统提供了高分辨率的三维立体视觉使术者手术视野环境极大改进。可以360°旋转的器械臂,能够精确完成各种精细手术操作。术者节省体力的同时过滤人手的抖动,使操作臂更稳、更精确。我们通过回顾相关文献评估和描述达芬奇机器人系统在妇科肿瘤的实际应用和临床效果。     

Penile sparing therapy for penile cancer

Penile cancer is a rare malignancy with a reported incidence of 0.66–1.44 per 100,000 men, and a reported mortality of 0.15–0.37 per 10,000 men. Expert clinical examination and histological diagnosis from biopsy is required to determine the extent and invasion of disease, which is paramount in planning of appropriate treatment. Management of loco-regional penile cancer can be divided into management of primary tumour and management of regional lymph nodes. This review article will focus on the management of the primary penile tumour with particular focus on penile sparing therapies. The aim of primary penile tumour management is to completely remove the tumour whilst preserving as much organ function as possible. Preservation of the penis is important as it allows patients to maintain urinary and sexual function, as well as quality of life. With the majority of penile cancer confined to the glans and foreskin, most penile cancers can be managed with organ-preserving therapy. A wide variety of treatment options are available, and this review aims to describe each of the options including the reported oncological and functional outcome for the different therapies for penile cancer.     

Quality of life after surgery for rectal cancer with special reference to pelvic floor dysfunction

Aim Conventional outcomes such as survival, tumour recurrence and complication rates after surgery for rectal cancer have been rigorously assessed, but the importance of maintaining quality of life (QOL) after surgery for rectal cancer has received less attention. The aim of the current study was to analyse QOL and the occurrence of pelvic dysfunction after the surgical treatment of rectal cancer. Method Between May 2005 and May 2008, 150 patients with rectal cancer underwent abdominoperineal resection (APR) or anterior resection (AR). Seventy‐four answered two preoperative questionnaires. At a follow up of 1 year, 65 were alive without sign of recurrence and answered the same questionnaires: (a) validated RAND 36‐item health survey QOL questionnaire; and (b) self‐administered disease‐related questionnaire with special reference to anorectal and urogenital function. Results The postoperative general QOL was similar after surgery, and mental functioning was better (P < 0.001). Problems with physical functions were associated with anal dysfunction after AR (P < 0.001) and problems with social functioning were associated with urinary dysfunction (P = 0.038). At 1 year after surgery, urinary incontinence was worse (P = 0.026) after all operations, and the incidence of dysuria was higher after APR than AR (P = 0.001). Male sexual function also worsened (P = 0.060). Anorectal dysfunction caused more inconvenience among patients who underwent AR (P = 0.028). Preoperative radiation was associated with postoperative ejaculation problems (P = 0.028) and anal incontinence (P = 0.012). Conclusion Factors affecting QOL and pelvic floor function should be taken into account when making treatment decisions in rectal cancer.     

育龄期乳腺癌根治术患者创伤后成长与性生活质量的相关研究

目的探讨育龄期乳腺癌根治术患者创伤后成长水平与其术后性生活质量的相关性。方法采用患者一般资料问卷、创伤后成长量表、女性性功能指数评分量表,对符合纳入标准的98例育龄期乳腺癌根治术患者进行调查。结果育龄期乳腺癌根治术患者创伤后成长总分和性功能总分分别为(58.31±4.21)分和(17.36±3.20)分,其创伤后成长处于中等水平,其中87例(88.78%)存在性功能障碍;患者性功能总得分、各维度得分与创伤后成长总得分(r=0.251~0.524)、精神的改变维度(r=0.238~0.581)、新的可能维度(r=0.365~0.695)、与他人关系维度(r=0.351~0.775)呈正相关(均P0.01)。结论育龄期乳腺癌根治术患者创伤后成长水平与其术后性生活质量存在正相关。医护人员应对患者及其配偶开展针对性、个性化的性健康教育,鼓励其正视疾病,提高患者及其配偶创伤后成长水平,从而提高患者的性生活质量。     

Discussing the sexual consequences of treatment in radiotherapy and urology consultations with couples affected by prostate cancer

Study Type – Attitude/patient experience analysis (retrospective cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Men with prostate cancer are likely to experience a range of treatment‐related side‐effects including deterioration in sexual functioning as a consequence of surgery, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Despite the clear links between treatments and changes in sexual functioning, sexual concerns are infrequently discussed in clinic settings. Data indicate the need to use clinical consultations appropriately to support both patient and partner in sexual recovery and rehabilitation, going beyond discussions of assistive technologies to offer psychosexual couple support.

OBJECTIVE

? To explore the ways in which prostate cancer treatment‐induced sexual changes are presented as viable topics for discussion in urology and radiotherapy clinics.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

? Ethnographic observations were made of 60 consultations between clinicians, patients and partners in clinical oncology and prostate cancer urology clinics.

RESULTS

? Sexual functioning was discussed infrequently in both clinic settings. ? Despite the presence of partners in nearly half of consultations, involvement of the partner tended to be minimal. ? Overall, discussions of wider psychosexual concerns were marginalised in consultations, and there were limited opportunities for couples to discuss the specific impact of prostate cancer and its treatments on sexual functioning.

CONCLUSION

? Given the potential burden of symptoms and side‐effects, there is a need to include discussions of sexual recovery and rehabilitation in consultations, and to provide opportunities to discuss the sexual consequences of treatment with men and their partners     

Sexual function and male cancer

Quality of life in general and sexual functioning in particular have become very important in cancer patients. Biological factors such as anatomic alterations, physiological changes and secondary effect of medical interventions may preclude normal sexual functioning even when sexual desire is intact. In spite of modern surgical techniques, improved chemotherapeutical drugs and sophisticated radiation techniques, still many patients complain of impaired sexual function after cancer treatment. A large number of instruments already exist to assess quality of life in cancer patients. It is important to standardize procedures and to use validated questionnaires. Collecting data on an ongoing basis before and long after treatment is mandatory, and control groups must be used. Patients should be offered sexual counselling and informed about the availability of therapies for sexual dysfunctions. In this paper we review the topic of sexual functioning after treatment (predominantly after radiotherapy) of the most common malignancies in men and give suggestions for treatment.     

Radiotherapy for prostate cancer and sexual health

Sexual dysfunction is very common after treatment of prostate cancer. Radiation therapy together with radical prostatectomy is the most effective treatment for localized disease. Percentages of erectile dysfunction (ED) reported in prospective studies after external-beam radiotherapy (RT) vary from 60-70%, and these are similar after brachytherapy. In randomized trials more realistic percentages of 30-40% are reported. Modern techniques do not seem to decrease post-radiation ED. No final conclusions can be drawn whether or not the radiation dose to the penile structures correlates with post-radiation ED in patients treated for prostate cancer. The etiology of ED after RT of prostate cancer is most probably multi-factorial. The phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-I) sildenafil and tadalafil have been shown to be effective to treat post-radiation ED in about half of the patients in randomized trials. Patients and their partners need to be adequately counselled on the effects of cancer treatment on their sexual life and relationship, and about the different treatment possibilities. Sexual counselling has not become yet a routine part of oncology care in most hospitals, but this should be provided. Due to the lack of robust data, prevention of post-radiation ED with PDE5-I cannot be recommended so far.     

Health-related quality of life and sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder

Background:   We evaluated the impact of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and overactive bladder (OAB) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and sexual function.
Methods:   A total of 245 women (SUI; n  = 123 and OAB; n  = 122) from 21 to 79 years old (mean 50.4) were included in the primary analyses. To obtain HRQOL and sexual function assessments, patients were asked to fill in the 'Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (BFLUTS)' and the 'Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36)' questionnaires.
Results:   Of the eight domains in the SF-36 questionnaire, only 'general health' was significantly different between the groups. Patients with SUI had a better general health than those with OAB ( P  = 0.016). When comparing the BFLUTS scores in the two groups, the score for 'BFLUTS-filling symptoms' was higher in the OAB group ( P  = 0.002) but that for 'BFLUTS-incontinence symptoms' was higher in the SUI group ( P  < 0.001). The score for 'BFLUTS-sex' was higher in the SUI group than in the OAB group but this was not statistically significant ( P  = 0.096). Of the 169 patients who had a sex life, the SUI group had experienced pain ( P  = 0.033) and leakage ( P  = 0.056) more frequently during intercourse than the OAB group.
Conclusion:   Both SUI and OAB have a detrimental impact on patient HRQOL in Korean women. In addition, our findings suggest that women with SUI had more frequently experienced pain during intercourse and coital incontinence than those with OAB.     

Normal urinary and sexual function in men without evidence of prostate cancer from Montreal, Canada

OBJECTIVE: To examine the rates of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and erectile dysfunction (ED), and of associated bother, in men with no evidence of prostate cancer who participated in a prostate cancer-screening event. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cohort of 366 men with no established diagnosis of prostate cancer completed a questionnaire addressing SUI, ED and associated bother. Socio-economic status and presence of comorbidities were also examined. RESULTS: The mean (range) age of the men was 54.8 (33-80) years; 90% of the men (271) had no SUI, and 76% (231) reported no urinary bother. Conversely, 62% (189) reported some degree of ED and 27% (82) some degree of sexual bother. Urinary bother (P < 0.001), erectile function (P < 0.001), and sexual bother (P < 0.02) were associated with age. Of all the men, 36% had one or more comorbidities. Men with one or more comorbidities had worse erectile function than those men with no comorbidity (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Few studies address normative values of SUI and ED rates in men with no established diagnosis of prostate cancer. We quantified the rate of SUI and it was practically negligible. Conversely, some degree of ED affected most of the present screened population. These data may be used as baseline references to evaluate the magnitude of functional and bother detriments after various prostate treatments.     

Sexual function in women after surgery for pelvic organ prolapse

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse on female sexual function. Sixty seven women with pelvic organ prolapse were recruited in the study. Degree of pelvic organ prolapse was assessed using pelvic organ prolapse quantitation (POPQ) staging system. Female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire was used to assess sexual function of the cases preoperatively and 12–16 weeks after the operation. Mean age of the cases was 36.03 ± 5.38 years. The total mean FSFI score increased from 15.9 ± 10.7 to 21.9 ± 11.1 (P < 0.05). Domain scores of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction were increased significantly (P < 0.05). The mean score for the pain-free intercourse decreased significantly. Results demonstrated that sexual function was improved postoperatively. Using various instruments to assess female sexual function and differences in demographic and cultural characteristics of study groups might be the reasons of discrepancy between the reports.