Assessment of the quality of life and sexual functions of patients followed-up for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: preliminary results of the prospective-descriptive study

Özet

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate sexual functions and quality life of patients who are followed-up for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).Material and methods: Between March 2015-June 2016, 50 patients underwent cystoscopy for NMIBC. Atthe end of the 1st year follow-up patients were assessed for sexual functions using 5-item version of the International Sexual Function Index (IIEF-5) for male and the Female Sexual Function Index(FSFI) for female;for quality of life (QoL) by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Non-MuscleInvasiv Bladder Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-NMIBC24) and for emotional statusby Beck depression inventory.Results: There were 44 male and 6 female patients with the mean age of 57.6±11.5 years. Twenty patientsreceived intravesical treatment after transurethral resection of bladder tumour. The mean Beck (10.7±9.5)IIEF-5 (15.6±5.9), FSFI (19.2±10.9), and the EORTC-QLQ NMBIC 24 (38.2±7.7) scores of the patients weredetermined as indicated. Among the patients, 42 (84%) of them were not feeling bad about their bladdertumors and 37 (74%) were not worrying about their daily lives. Moreover, 12 (24%) patients were not interested with sexuality, while 27 (54%) of them did not feel comfortable about sexual sincerity. Interestingly,27 patients receiving intravesical treatment were concerned that the treatment they received for preventionof recurrence and progression of bladder tumor infect their partners during sexual intercourse.Conclusion: NMIBC affects patients' sexual functions and QoL negatively. Therefore during the follow-upof these patients, it is important to inform these patients accurately about their treatments to be applied andpredicted complications in the follow up period.