Psychosocial outcomes of cancer: a comparative analysis of Hodgkin's disease and testicular cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The psychosocial outcomes of testicular cancer and Hodgkin's disease were compared to test our hypotheses that more specific dysfunction and less hiding of symptoms would be found in the former group, as cancer visibly affects a sexual organ. Since those with Hodgkin's disease could more easily deny the disease, poorer psychosocial adjustment was predicted.


METHODS
The sample consists of 85 men with Hodgkin's disease and 88 men with testicular cancer (seminomatous, n = 39; or nonseminomatous, n = 49). They were interviewed once, at least 1 year following the end of treatment. Measures of sociodemographic characteristics, physical functioning, psychologic distress, and social outcomes were collected. Treatment data were collected from medical records.


RESULTS
Men with testicular cancer report more focused symptoms: less sexual enjoyment and poor health habits. Men with Hodgkin's disease report more generalized symptoms: fatigue, energy loss, and work impairment. Multivariate analysis indicates that most of these differences are site-related; independent effects of treatment on outcomes were found for more generalized symptoms. Contrary to expectations, both groups reported similar levels of infertility and erectile dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
The response to testicular cancer is site-specific, while the response to Hodgkin's disease is related to both site and treatment (stage-related).
Bloom
J R
JR
University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Fobair
P
P
Gritz
E
E
Wellisch
D
D
Spiegel
D
D
Varghese
A
A
Hoppe
R
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome