Bladder cancer specific QoL tools
Many validated QoL measuring tools have been modified
to be cancer specific tools. FACT BL and EORTC-QLQ-C30
and BCI were generated and validated recently.
11,12
A set of
questions specific to bladder cancer treatment has been added
to existing tools to make them more relevant to bladder can-
cer patients. An advantage of bladder cancer modified QoL
measuring tools is their ability to target specific bladder can-
cer treatment problems. Suchmodified tools contain domains
dealing with urinary, sexual and bowel symptoms. However,
with new types of diversion there is an increasing need for
diversion specific QoL questionnaires. For example, prob-
lems associated with conduit diversion are different to prob-
lems seen with orthotopic or continent cutaneous urinary
diversions. In addition, patients complaints may have their
origin in musculoskeletal, neurological or biochemical side
effects. Using specific categories related mainly to treatment
side effects might thus lead to non-expected complications
being missed.