Abstract
Objective To evaluate the association of fecal incontinence (FI) and lower urinary tract symptoms
(LUTS) in patients diagnosed with initial prostate cancer (PC) and after any therapeutic
approach (surgery and radiotherapy).
Methods Cross-sectional study using the Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (CCIS), the Fecal
Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL) questionnaire, and the International Consultation
on Incontinence Questionnaire Overactive Bladder (ICIQ-OAB).
Results A total of 84 patients with PC were included: 40 of them had not started treatment,
31 were submitted to radical prostatectomy (RP), and 13 were submitted to radiotherapy
(RT). Those submitted to RT presented higher scores on the ICIQ-OAB (p = 0.01). When comparing the whole sample reagarding the patients with and without
FI, we observed that the incontinents presented a higher frequency of urinary incontinence
(UI) (p < 0.001). Moreover, when comparing patients with/without FI within their treatment
groups regarding the presence of UI and FIQL scores, we identified that patients undergoing
RP presented an association between UI and FI (p < 0.001) and a greater impact of FI on the FIQL (p < 0.001).
Conclusion Patients submitted to RT present more intense LUTS. Moreover, patients with FI present
a higher association with UI, and this association is more marked in those with FI
submitted to RP.
Keywords
prostate cancer - radiotherapy - radical prostatectomy - urinary incontinence - fecal
incontinence
