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American Society of Clinical Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, 15_suppl(35), p. e21589-e21589

DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.e21589

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Sexual health and quality of life in testicular cancer survivors (TCS) in a third level hospital of a middle-income country.

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

e21589 Background: TCS have long life expectancy, but struggle with numerous potential long-term sequelae, including sexual dysfunction (SD). They can suffer organic SD as a treatment side effect, and non-organic SD as a result of psychosexual changes related to the disease. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of SD in a cohort of TCS in a middle-income country, and to examine possible influences on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic study was conducted. TCS in our cohort underwent IIEF-5 questionnaire, and sexual hormones measurement. HRQoL was examined using SF-36 questionnaire. Beck Depression Scale was used to assess psychological symptoms. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association among SD and disease characteristics and HRQoL. A Pearson correlation test was performed between SD and disease free survival interval. Results:The study population comprised 35 men whose and mean age was 32±8.3 years (21-54) and the median follow-up time since the end of treatment was 24 months, . Twelve TCS (34%) reported any level of impairment of erectile function (ED), 21 (60%) had loss of sexual desire, and 15 (42%) reported orgasmic dysfunction (OD). The presence of ED, loss of desire, or OD were not associated with worse scores in all SF36 domains, including both composite scores and the total SF-36 score. Treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) or CT plus retroperitoneal lymph node dissection were not associated with ED (p = 0.8). Fatigue (SF-36 vitality) was statistically significant higher among our cohort of TCS compared to an age-adjusted normative Mexican male population, independently of SD or depression level (0.001). Fatigue was independently associated with higher levels of gonadotropins and lower of testosterone (p = 0.05). Conclusions: The incidence of SD in Mexican TCS is similar (34%) to the rate reported in other populations. HRQoL is decreased particularly in the vitality section, when compared to age-adjusted normative controls. Nevertheless, we did not demonstrate a correlation between SD and worse HRQoL or depression level. Fatigue was associated with low level of tesosterone.