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    J Clin Oncol. 2009 Oct 26. [Epub ahead of print]

    Health-Related Quality of Life in Long-Term Survivors of Testicular Cancer.

    Rossen PB, Pedersen AF, Zachariae R, von der Maase H.

    Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital; Psychooncology Research Unit, University of Aarhus, Aarhus; and Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

    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.

    PMID: 19858403 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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