Purpose: To assess the prevalence and predictors of complications after prostate brachytherapy in a population-based sample of older men. Patients and Methods: We analyzed claims for Medicare-enrolled men older than age 65 years living in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) surveillance areas diagnosed with prostate cancer from 1991 to 1999 who underwent brachytherapy as initial treatment. Results: There were 5,621 men who had brachytherapy with at least 2 years of follow-up. A complication diagnosis or invasive procedure occurred in 54.5% of men within 2 years, with 14.1% undergoing an invasive procedure. Urinary, bowel, and erectile morbidity rates were 33.8%, 21.0%, and 16.7%, respectively, and invasive procedure rates were 10.3%, 0.8%, and 4.0%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, combined urinary diagnoses and invasive procedures (obstruction, incontinence, bleeding, fistula) were associated with older age (P < .01), nonwhite race (odds ratio [OR], 1.30; P = .01), low income (OR, 1.74; P < .01), external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT; OR, 0.85; P = .01), androgen deprivation (OR, 1.31; P < .01), later year of brachytherapy (OR, 1.03/yr; P = .02), higher Charlson comorbidity score (P < .01), and prior transurethral resection of the prostate (OR, 1.65; P < .01). Bowel morbidity (bleeding/proctitis, injury) was associated with older age (P = .04), EBRT (OR, 1.46; P < .01), later year (OR, 1.04/yr; P < .01), higher Charlson score (P = .01), and inflammatory bowel disease (OR, 2.60; P < .01). Erectile morbidity was associated with younger age (P < .01), nonwhite race (OR, 1.37; P < .01), AD (OR, 1.18; P = .04), and later year (OR, 1.08/yr; P < .01). Invasive procedure rates declined with later year of brachytherapy (OR, 0.93/yr; P < .01). Conclusion: Morbidity after prostate brachytherapy was common, though invasive procedures were required infrequently. Invasive procedures for complications declined during the 1990s, suggesting technical improvement with experience.

Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is usually diagnosed at advanced stage (IIIB or IV), when cure is rarely attainable.¹ Although chemotherapy offers modest quality-of-life and survival advantages over best supportive care,^2,3 treatment outcomes remain disappointing, with 1-year survival less than 50% and 3-year survival less than 25%.⁴

Purpose: Although radiation therapy (RT) can palliate symptoms and may prolong life, it is not curative for patients with metastatic lung cancer. We investigated patient expectations about the goals of RT for incurable lung cancers. Patients and Methods: The Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance Consortium enrolled a population- and health system–based cohort of patients diagnosed with lung cancer from 2003 to 2005. We identified patients with stage wet IIIB or IV lung cancer who received RT and answered questions on their expectations about RT. We assessed patient expectations about the goals of RT and identified factors associated with inaccurate beliefs about cure. Results: In all, 384 patients completed surveys on their expectations about RT. Seventy-eight percent of patients believed that RT was very or somewhat likely to help them live longer, and 67% believed that RT was very or somewhat likely to help them with problems related to their cancer. However, 64% did not understand that RT was not at all likely to cure them. Older patients and nonwhites were more likely to have inaccurate beliefs, and patients whose surveys were completed by surrogates were less likely to have inaccurate beliefs. Ninety-two percent of patients with inaccurate beliefs about cure from RT also had inaccurate beliefs about chemotherapy. Conclusion: Although patients receiving RT for incurable lung cancer believe it will help them, most do not understand that it is not at all likely to cure their disease. This indicates a need to improve communication regarding the goals and limitations of palliative RT.