BackgroundQuality of life (QoL) is one of the most significant issues in prostate cancer treatment decisions. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) and QoL after treatment in localized prostate cancer patients.Materials and methodsA prospective single-center clinical study was performed in low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients. Patients received 33.5 Gy in 5 fractions (SHARP regimen). Acute and late toxicity was assessed according to RTOG/EORTC score. Patients filled out EORTC QLQ-C30 and prostate cancer-specific QLQ-PR25 questionnaires.ResultsThe analysis included 68 prostate cancer patients (55–83 years, median 73) with clinical stage T1c-T2cN0M0, median combined Gleason score of 6 (3–8), and median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 10 ng/mL (4–20 ng/mL). Neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy was given to 52 patients (76.5 %), and stopped in 31 patients (45.5 %) after 6 months; in 21 patients (31 %) after 2–3 years. Average and median follow-up was 24 months (18–45). Median nadir PSA level was 0.03 ng/mL for all patients and 0.6 ng/mL for patients without hormone treatment. No patients had PSA failure. There were no acute grade IV toxicities. One patient (1.5 %) developed grade III and 24 patients (35.3 %) grade II acute bladder toxicity. No one developed grade III and 7 patients (10.3 %) grade II acute rectal toxicity. No grade III or IV late gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicities were reported. Grade II late urinary symptoms were observed in 8 patients (11.8 %) and gastrointestinal symptoms in 3 patients (4.4 %). Global health status/QoL was good and improved during the observational period.ConclusionSBRT for prostate cancer patients is a well-tolerated treatment in terms of toxicity and QoL, has no negative impact on functioning and everyday life, with the important benefit of a short treatment period. However, long-term follow-up data are needed.

No abstract

Background: Cancer diagnosis is associated not only with health problems but also with psycho-social disability. Both medical and non-medical problems have impacts on cancer patients’ quality of life. The aim of the study was the identification of cognitive emotion regulation strategies among cancer patients during radiotherapy. Methods: The study was conducted on 78 radically treated cancer patients (median 63 years). A Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) was used. Results: Cancer patients mostly used acceptance, positive refocusing, putting into perspective and refocus on planning. Age was inversely correlated with refocus on planning. Patients with higher levels of education tended to use rumination and catastrophizing less frequently (p < 0.05). Adaptive cognitive strategies based on putting into perspective were more frequently used by professionally active patients (p < 0.05). Patients who lived in cities used positive refocusing and putting into perspective significantly often and patients who lived in villages more frequently used catastrophizing (p < 0.05). Among lung cancer patients, catastrophizing and rumination were popular (p < 0.05) and breast cancer patients rarely used non-adaptive cognitive strategies. Conclusion: Cancer patients tended to use adaptive cognitive strategies. Personalized psychological support should be focused on lung cancer patients and older, less educated, unemployed individuals and people who lived in the countryside.

e21550 Background:Cancers are the second most common cause of death. Treatment of cancers is complex and might be aggressive, takes a long time and is usually difficult to accept for patients. As a result of disease and treatment a body image(BI) is impaired and can reduce quality of life(QoL),which has become a very important factor. The objective of the study was to investigate BI and QoL during oncological treatment of breast cancer(BCa), cervical cancer(CeCa) and prostate cancer(PCa) patients and to compare with healthy groups of men(HM) and women(HW). Methods:The analysis included 280 participants: 31 BCa-pts just after oncological surgery (age26-86 years,M = 63,23,Me = 65), 44 BCa-pts during adjuvant radiotherapy (age37-69years, M = 57,23,Me = 60), 21 CeCa-pts during therapy (age30-68years,M = 54,43,Me = 60), 52 PCa-pts with clinical stage T1-T2N0M0 (age57-86;M = 70,65;Me = 70) after standard three-dimensional conformal radiation treatment (3DCRT), 32 PCa-pts (age59-84;M = 74;Me = 75) after stereotactic hypofractionated radiotherapy (HRT), than without any type of cancer 50HM (age47-92years;M = 62,28;Me = 60) and 50HW (age30-84 years,M = 51,46,Me = 50). The subjects filled out the questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30 (ver3.0.) and a specially designed questionnaire for a body image assessment. Results:All factors associated with BI between groups differed significantly (p < 0,05): general appearance, self-esteem, physical and sexual attractiveness. The highest assessment in all categories were done by HRT-pts and the lowest by BCa-pts during radiotherapy, than BCa-pts after surgery. HM and HW perceived BI on a similar level, however lower than HRT-pts. Overall QoL was significantly lowest in BCa-pts after surgery (p < 0,05), but physical, role, emotional, and general functioning were the worst in BCa-pts during radiotherapy (p < 0,05). The lowest social QoL was assessed by CeCa-pts (p < 0,05). Conclusions:It seems that oncological treatment influences significantly BI of cancer patients and worsens QoL especially in breast cancer women just after surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. HTR-pts assesses BI and general QoL even better than healthy groups.

Gynecological cancers, due to their location and relation to the aspects of femininity, reproductive ability and body image, are associated not only with the physical dimension of cancer, but also with the mental sphere. The loss of fertility may lead to feelings of sadness and grief that remain for a very long time after the treatment. In patients with gynecological cancers, the increased risk of early menopause, loss of femininity, decreased libido, or distorted body image can affect their quality of life. The distress emerging in this situation may further worsen the health condition and negatively affect the quality of life and ability to mobilize the organism to fight against the disease. For this reason, it is important to monitor the level of distress and quality of life using available questionnaires and measurement tools. Psychological interventions and psychotherapy can help women with gynecological cancers raise their self-esteem related e.g. to corporeality, improve the overall quality of life and reduce the psychological distress caused by the disease and the treatment itself.