Quality of life in penile carcinoma patients - post-total penectomy

Abstract

IntroductionTotal amputation, as a treatment for advanced penile cancer, significantly debilitates the patient's quality of life and sexual function. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life in patients who had undergone total penectomy.Material and methodsThe questionnaires EORTC QLQ C-30, SES, CMNI, and a modified IIEF-15 questionnaire, were sent to 11 patients.ResultsA total of 10 patients returned the questionnaires completed. The results of the overall quality of life, the median result in individual domains, as assessed by the EORT QLQ C-30 questionnaire, were clearly lower than the reference results. There were statistically significant differences in the results of the QLQ C-30, concerning the role-functioning domain in relation to age (p = 0.008) and education (p = 0.032), in the domain of emotional functioning in relation to education (p = 0.008) and in the domains of physical functioning in relation to the partner relationship (p = 0.032). A significant number of patients were sexually inactive. Sexual activity as defined by touching the area of the pubic symphysis at the scars of the penis, touching and fondling perianal areas or the scrotum and watching things/people that cause excitement was observed in 2/10, 1/10 and 2/10 of patients respectively. In 5/6 of these patients, partnership relationships did not deteriorate, including one patient for whom the relationship actually improved.ConclusionsThe results obtained indicate that total amputation of the penis significantly affects one's sex life and overall quality of life. However, this does not have negative implications in terms of partnership relations, self-assessment or the evaluation of masculinity.

Impact of radiation therapy on perineal urethrostomy for penile cancer

“…Undoubtedly, PeCa has enormous impact on numerous quality of life areas [13][14][15][16] for patients. Organ preservation techniques certainly exist for selected patients, but radical surgery remains the best choice for many primary lesions, and for the involved groin in all cases [17].…”

Andrological Aspects of Penile and Testicular Cancer

“…Indeed, only 55.6% of patients had erectile function that allowed sexual intercourse after partial penectomy and only 33.3% were satisfied with their sex life. After total amputation, a significant effect on sexual life and overall QoL, although there were no negative implications in terms of partner relationships, self-assessment or the evaluation of masculinity [45]. Even if the evidence is very limited, total phallic reconstruction following full or near-total penile amputation is possible, with cosmetically acceptable results [46][47][48].…”

Survival Analysis of Primary Tumor Staging (T), Lymph Node Status (N), Tumor Grading, Cell Subtype, Lymphovascular Invasion Status, and Preoperative Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio Values in Penile Cancer

“…One study conducted by Sosnowski et al, which assessed the quality of life (Quality of Life) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in penile cancer patients who received treatment with total penectomy and was assessed by the EORTC QLQ C30 questionnaire, obtained median results in the individual domain is lower than the median outcome of other genitourinary cancer patients that occur in males (50:66,7). [7] In penile cancer, tumors can grow anywhere in all parts of the penis, starting from the glans penis, foreskin, and shaft of the penis, which can spread and damage the surrounding tissue structures such as the pubic bone, scrotum, and others. The spread of these tumor cells can continue to locoregional lymph nodes and metastasize to other organs such as the liver and lungs.…”