Quality of life among testis cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND

As the most common cancer among males in late adolescence and early adulthood and as a disease with a 5-year relative survival rate of 96%, testis cancer has many survivors who live many years during which chronic toxicities may impair their quality of life.

METHODS

In this review, I aimed to summarize the most relevant literature on quality of life among testis cancer survivors identified via PubMed literature search between 1990 and 2015.

RESULTS

Survivors of testis cancer experience an overall quality of life (QOL) that is not measurably different from that of men of the same age in the general population. Nonetheless, testis cancer and its treatments can result in a variety of long-term conditions that affect QOL. These include peripheral neuropathy, hearing loss, tinnitus, fatigue, and Raynaud-like phenomenon. Exercise interventions have been shown to improve fatigue and overall QOL in cancer survivors, and there is evidence that psychosocial and mind-body interventions may also be beneficial. Pharmacological interventions have not been shown to be helpful for cancer-related fatigue, hearing loss, or neuropathy.

CONCLUSIONS

Testis cancer survivors should be asked about symptoms related to the conditions above and referred to specialists as indicated. Survivors complaining of fatigue should be encouraged to adopt a regular program of aerobic exercise.