Journal of the National Cancer Institute
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Oct 2000
Health outcomes after prostatectomy or radiotherapy for prostate cancer: results from the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Study.
Radical prostatectomy and external beam radiotherapy are the two major therapeutic options for treating clinically localized prostate cancer. Because survival is often favorable regardless of therapy, treatment decisions may depend on other therapy-specific health outcomes. In this study, we compared the effects of two treatments on urinary, bowel, and sexual functions and on general health-related quality-of-life outcomes over a 2-year period following initial treatment. ⋯ There are important differences in urinary, bowel, and sexual functions over 2 years after different treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer. In contrast to previous reports, these outcome differences reflect treatment delivered to a heterogeneous group of patients in diverse health care settings. These results provide comprehensive and representative information about long-term treatment complications to help guide and inform patients and clinicians about prostate cancer treatment decisions.
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Sep 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialCanadian National Breast Screening Study-2: 13-year results of a randomized trial in women aged 50-59 years.
Screening for breast cancer with mammography in women aged 50 years or more has been shown to reduce mortality from breast cancer. However, the extent to which mammography contributes to the reduction of mortality in women who also undergo physical examination of the breasts is not known. This study was designed to compare breast cancer mortality following annual screening consisting of two-view mammography and physical examination of the breasts with mortality following annual screening by physical examination only. Breast self-examination was taught to all participants. ⋯ In women aged 50-59 years, the addition of annual mammography screening to physical examination has no impact on breast cancer mortality.
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J. Natl. Cancer Inst. · Sep 2000
Role of breast reconstructive surgery in physical and emotional outcomes among breast cancer survivors.
Tissue-sparing approaches to primary treatment and reconstructive options provide improved cosmetic outcomes for women with breast cancer. Earlier research has suggested that conservation or restitution of the breast might mitigate the negative effects of breast cancer on women's sexual well-being. Few studies, however, have compared psychosocial outcomes of women who underwent lumpectomy, mastectomy alone, or mastectomy with reconstruction. To address some of these issues, we examined women's adaptation to surgery in two large cohorts of breast cancer survivors. ⋯ The psychosocial impact of type of primary surgery for breast cancer occurs largely in areas of body image and feelings of attractiveness, with women receiving lumpectomy experiencing the most positive outcome. Beyond the first year after diagnosis, a woman's quality of life is more likely influenced by her age or exposure to adjuvant therapy than by her breast surgery.