BJU international
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Observational Study
Health-related quality of life in active surveillance and radical prostatectomy for low-risk prostate cancer: a prospective observational study (HAROW - Hormonal therapy, Active Surveillance, Radiation, Operation, Watchful Waiting).
To compare health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between patients with localised prostate cancer in an active surveillance (AS) group and a radical prostatectomy (RP) group, as evidence shows that both groups have similar oncological outcomes. Thus, comparative findings on the patients' HRQOL are becoming even more important to allow for informed treatment decision-making. ⋯ HRQOL is an important aspect in the decision-making and advising process for patients with prostate cancer. In many aspects of HRQOL, AS is associated with more favourable outcomes than RP within the first 1-2 years after diagnosis in our observational design, although the differences were not clinically significant. The result that HRQOL in AS patients is at least as high as in RP patients should be considered when advising patients about the different treatment options for low-risk localised prostate cancer.