Effect of intermittent androgen blockade on the quality of life of patients with advanced prostate carcinoma

Objective To investigate the effect of intermittent androgen blockade (IAB) on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with advanced prostatic carcinoma (APC). Methods Investigations on the QOL of 51 APC patients receiving IAB treatment, totaling 3 times, i.e. 6 months before and after, and 12 months after treatment, were perform using the EORTC QLQ-C30 measuring scale and QLQ-PR25 scale. Results Although IAB became an economic burden for the families, it was lessened during the intermission ( P <0.05). The overall health status significantly improved 6 months after IAB treatment ( P <0.01), especially during the intermission ( P <0.05), with a total or local easement of pain ( P <0.01) and an improvement of urinary function ( P <0.01). Although there was impairment, to various degrees, in many functions of the patients on the 6th month of treatment, such as the physical function ( P <0.05), role function ( P <0.05), the emotional ( P <0.01) and the social functions ( P <0.01), with an enhancement of fatigue ( P <0.01), these functions gradually recovered by the 12th month as the intermission started. Treatment-related symptoms such as flushing and mammary swelling significantly emerged on the 6th treatment month ( P <0.01), and lessened on the 12th ( P <0.01). During the treatment period, there was an notable drop in sexual interest ( P <0.01), with a deprivation of sex life, but revived to various degrees during the intermission ( P <0.01). Conclusion Although IAB treatment of APC patients did impair the physiologic and psychologic status of patients to varying degrees, these were improved and restored during the intermission.