4 Background: Treatment-related toxicity for prostate cancer (CaP) is rarely reported more than 5 years after therapy. We examined the SEER-Medicare linked database with the potential of having 16 years of follow-up data on toxicity requiring procedural intervention. Methods: The SEER-Medicare database was queried for CaP patients treated with prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), or brachytherapy (PI) between 1991-2007. We identified procedural billing codes associated with toxicity-related treatments. We obtained information on the Medicare reimbursement rates for the initial treatment and any toxicity-related interventions. We then computed the cost per patient-year within each treatment modality over time. Results: A total of 137,427 patients who were 65 years or older at the time of CaP diagnosis and who had CaP as their only cancer diagnosis were retrieved from the SEER/Medicare database: 59,559 (43.3%) treated with RP, 60,806 (44.2%) treated with EBRT, and 17,062 (12.4%) treated with PI. No patient received combined therapy. The median follow-up is 71 months. Overall, 10,585 (7.3%) patients experienced a toxicity requiring intervention. Within treatment modalities, the percentages receiving toxicity-related intervention were: RP 6.9%, EBRT 8.8%, and PI 3.7%. The gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity comparisons are listed in the table. Dilation of a urethral stricture was the most common GU toxicity (3.6% of all patients) while cauterization of rectal bleeding was the most common GI toxicity (0.8% of all patients). Conclusions: The long-term toxicity and cost per patient-year of the major prostate cancer treatment modalities differ. EBRT is the most toxic and most costly. [Table: see text]
A randomized trial of external beam radiotherapy versus cryoablation in patients with localized prostate cancer
