Health-related quality of life in long-term survivors of testicular cancer
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
PURPOSE: A growing number of patients with testicular cancer (TC) become long-term survivors. As a consequence, quality-of-life (QOL) issues become increasingly important. The objective of this study was to investigate QOL among Danish TC survivors. METHODS: A long-term follow-up assessment of all patients with TC treated at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark between 1990 and 2000 was conducted. A total of 401 survivors (response rate, 66%) completed questionnaires concerning QOL (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30), depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II), fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20), and health-related issues such as neurotoxic symptoms and Raynaud-like phenomena. On the basis of their treatment, participants were categorized as having received surveillance, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. RESULTS: QOL among patients with TC was equal to that of men from the general population. Although patients who received chemotherapy reported higher levels of peripheral sensory neuropathy, ototoxicity, and Raynaud-like phenomena, treatment strategies were generally unrelated to QOL and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Overall, the patients in this study reported high levels of QOL. The results suggest that patients treated for TC should be informed about the anticipated good post-therapeutic QOL and the low risk of psychosocial and physical long-term effects.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Clinical Oncology |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 35 |
Pages (from-to) | 5993-9 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 0732-183X |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Bibliographical note
Keywords: Adult; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Denmark; Depression; Fatigue; Follow-Up Studies; Hearing Disorders; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Orchiectomy; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Raynaud Disease; Registries; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Survivors; Testicular Neoplasms; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
ID: 19367892