gms | German Medical Science

27th German Cancer Congress Berlin 2006

German Cancer Society (Frankfurt/M.)

22. - 26.03.2006, Berlin

Prostate cancer: Psychological strain, life quality and partnership

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author presenting/speaker Anita Regenberg - TU München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Deutschland
  • Regina Hollweck - TU München, Klinikum rechts der Isar
  • Reinhard Thamm - TU München, Klinikum rechts der Isar
  • Michael Molls - TU München, Klinikum rechts der Isar
  • Wolfgang Tunner - LMU München, Department Psychologie
  • Peter Herschbach - TU München, Klinikum rechts der Isar

27. Deutscher Krebskongress. Berlin, 22.-26.03.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. DocPO584

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dkk2006/06dkk693.shtml

Published: March 20, 2006

© 2006 Regenberg et al.
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Outline

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Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of treatment in patients with prostate cancer. Aim of this work was to study the significance of erectile dysfunction, consisting of erectile function, desire and satisfaction, and its effect on private life and sex life in patients with prostate cancer and their spouses. We also aimed to show the effect of erectile dysfunction on their quality of partnership and their quality and contentment of life. 103 patients, aged 43- 81 years, and at the time of the study were interviewed in the time course of undergoing radiotherapy because of prostate cancer. In addition 75 spouses (age 63 ± 7.6) of the patients were available for the study. Instruments were the FBK-R23, FLZM, HADS-D and PFB partnership questionnaires, the socio-demographic questionnaire as well as the modified IIEF (International Index of Erectile Function erectile function questionnaire) by Rosen et al. Clinical data such as tumor stage, gleason score, type of treatment (surgery – nerve sparing vs. non-nerve sparing, radiotherapy, antiandrogenic therapy) were also documented. 70.6% of the studied patients reported any form of erectile dysfunction. Patients had benefit from nerve sparing surgery in regards to erectile function and satisfaction compared to patients who underwent surgery by non-nerve sparing techniques. Patients treated by antiandrogenic therapy display a significant worse score for the factor “desire”. Interestingly there was no effect of antiandrogenic therapy on the factors “satisfaction” and “erectile function”. Patients <65 years showed higher mean scores for the factors “angst” and “depression” than patients >65 years. Advanced age, depression, impaired physical health, being in gainful employment have negative impact on erectile dysfunction, duration of partnership has negative impact of desire, and higher overall impairment in quality of life has negative impact of satisfaction. In the partnerships caress is reduced in favour of companionship in patients suffering from erectile dysfunction. The burden from erectile dysfunction of their partners have significantly higher impact on quality and contentment of life in spouses <65 years old than those >65years.