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document
A randomized trial of external beam radiotherapy versus cryoablation in patients with localized prostate cancer : quality of life outcomes . BACKGROUND A recent randomized trial to compare external beam radiation therapy ( EBRT ) to cryoablation for localized disease showed cryoablation to be noninferior to external beam EBRT in disease progression and overall and disease-specific survival . We report on the quality of life ( QOL ) outcomes for this trial . METHODS From December 1997 through February 2003 , 244 men with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer were randomly assigned to cryoablation or EBRT ( median dose 68 Gy ) . All patients received neoadjuvant antiandrogen therapy . Patients completed the EORTC QLQ C30 and the Prostate Cancer Index ( PCI ) before treatment and at 1.5 , 3 , 6 , 12 , 18 , 24 , and 36 months post-treatment . RESULTS Regardless of treatment arm , participants reported high levels of QOL with few exceptions . cryoablation was associated with more acute urinary dysfunction ( mean PCI urinary function cryoablation=69.4 ; mean EBRT=90.7 ; P < .001 ) , which resolved over time . No late arising QOL issues were observed . Both EBRT and cryoablation participants reported decreases in sexual function at 3 months with the cryoablation patients reporting poorer functioning ( mean cryoablation=7.2 : mean EBRT=32.9 ; P < .001 ) . Mean sexual function score was 15 points lower at 3 years for the cryoablation group and 13 % more of the cryoablation men said that sexuality was a moderate or big problem . CONCLUSIONS In this randomized trial , no long-term QOL advantage for either treatment was apparent with the exception of poorer sexual function reported by those treated with cryoablation . Men who wish to increase their odds of retaining sexual function might be counseled to choose EBRT over cryoablation .
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Intervention_Physical
external beam radiotherapy
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Intervention_Physical
cryoablation
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Intervention_Physical
external beam radiation therapy ( EBRT )
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Intervention_Physical
external beam EBRT
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Intervention_Physical
cryoablation
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Intervention_Physical
EBRT
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Intervention_Pharmacological
neoadjuvant antiandrogen
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Intervention_Physical
EBRT
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Intervention_Physical
cryoablation
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Intervention_Physical
cryoablation
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Intervention_Physical
cryoablation
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Intervention_Physical
cryoablation
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Intervention_Physical
EBRT
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Intervention_Physical
cryoablation
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Outcome_Other
quality of life ( QOL )
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Outcome_Other
QOL
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Outcome_Physical
acute urinary dysfunction
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Outcome_Other
No late arising QOL issues
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Outcome_Physical
decreases in sexual function
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Outcome_Physical
Mean sexual function score
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Outcome_Other
QOL
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Outcome_Mental
sexual function
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Outcome_Mental
sexual function
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Participant_Condition
localized prostate cancer
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Participant_Sample-size
244 men
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Participant_Condition
localized prostate cancer