Patient and physician perspective on the acute toxicity of hypofractionated radiotherapy for prostate cancer

This thesis explores the impact of different radiation fractionation schedules on acute toxicity and health- related quality of life (HRQoL), considering both patient and doctor perspectives. Patients treated with hypofractionation(HF) report higher rates of acute gastrointestinal and genitourinary symptoms, but these symptoms typically resolve within three months, indicating that HF is generally well tolerated. From a doctor's perspective, careful management of these acute symptoms, especially gastrointestinal issues in moderate hypofraction( MHF), is crucial. The study highlights that MHF is feasible, cost-effective, and well-tolerated, even in low-resource settings like Rwanda, supporting its broader use while emphasizing the need for further research on long-term effects, HRQoL, and optimal symptom management.