Quality of life after treatment for testicular cancer--the patient's view.
Twenty-eight patients cured of testicular cancer by cisplatin-based chemotherapy were asked for their own views of the long-term psychological and social effects of their treatment. Their views were compared with a group of 34 testicular cancer patients cured by radiotherapy who were matched for age, social class and time since treatment. A category rating type questionnaire was used with questions concerning general health, subjective side-effects of treatment, employment, relationships, reproduction and mood. The principal differences were (1) the chemotherapy group reported a greater prevalence of physical side-effects, (2) the radiotherapy group reported greater anxiety and depression since treatment and (3) a significant number of patients in the chemotherapy group felt that their illness had had beneficial effects on their relationships with family and friends.
Stuart
N S
NS
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, U.K.
Grundy
R
R
Woodroffe
C M
CM
Cullen
M H
MH
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013724:Teratoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy