Quality of life of patients with renal cell carcinoma or prostate cancer after radical surgery.

Objectives: To study the impact of radical tumour surgery in prostate and renal cell cancer patients on quality of life (QOL).
Methods: In 38 male patients suffering from organ-confined prostate or renal cell cancer, a prospective study was performed. For the evaluation of QOL, we used the EMPK (Erfassung multipler psychischer Konstrukte). Urologic symptoms were evaluated with a specially designed symptom score. The test instrument was filled out the day before surgery and one year after operation.
Results: The EMPK was able to detect and describe significant changes in certain aspects of QOL in renal cell cancer and prostate cancer patients. Moreover, there seems to be a difference between the two groups. A direct relation between QOL and the different quality and quantity of operation-related symptoms, however, could not be proven.
Conclusions: In this pilot study, radical surgical therapy did not significantly change QOL in prostate cancer patients, but seemed to have a positive influence on the QOL of renal cell cancer patients.