Less to Hold - A Comparison of Bladder Toxicities (Side Effects) in Patients Undergoing Prostate Radiotherapy Between Patients Treated With Empty Bladder and Those on a Drinking Protocol.
Less to Hold - A Comparison of Bladder Toxicities (Side Effects) in Patients Undergoing Prostate Radiotherapy Between Patients Treated With Empty Bladder and Those on a Drinking Protocol.
Radical radiotherapy to the prostate is conventionally treated with a full bladder with the aim of minimising dose to the bladder and small bowel to prevent significant side effects. Tolerance of the bladder filling protocol varies depending on patients' baseline urinary function. It is not uncommon for some men to have "accidents" during treatment causing understandable distress. This can also extend the treatment time and cause knock on delays in the radiotherapy department.
Several United Kingdom (UK) centres report treating with an empty bladder. The investigators carried out a feasibility study comparing treatment with full bladder to empty bladder to ascertain if the investigators can safely change our protocol to that of an empty bladder.
50 patients receiving radical radiotherapy to the prostate were randomised using closed envelope technique 1:1 into 2 groups. Group A followed the conventional drinking protocol at our centre (200ml prior to treatment) and group B were treated with an empty bladder. Baseline, end of treatment and 6 week follow up scores were prospectively collected for International prostate Symptom Score(IPSS), Late Effects Normal Tissue Task Force - Subjective, Objective, Management, Analytic (LENT SOMA) bowel toxicity and quality of life questionnaires. The investigators also looked at bowel and bladder Dose Volume Histogram (DVH) to ensure constraints were met.
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