Abstract
BackgroundSurvivors of germ-cell tumors (GCT) may suffer from long-term adverse consequences. Our study was conducted to assess a long-term sexual functioning in GCT survivors.MethodsGCT survivors (N = 170) from the National Cancer Institute in Slovakia completed a Sexual Function Questionnaire that was modified from PROMIS Sexual Function and Satisfaction Questionnaire 9-year median follow up (range 5–32) as a primary exploratory aim. Study groups consisted of 17 survivors (10%) who had active surveillance (AS, controls), and 153 (90%) survivors who received treatment beyond orchiectomy (Tx), including cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CT, N = 132; 78%), radiotherapy to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes (RT, N = 12; 7%) or both (CTRT, N = 9; 5%).ResultsIn univariate analysis, treatment of any type resulted in difficulty to maintain erection during sexual intercourse compared to patients treated with AS (P = 0.04). Survivors who received CTRT had lower ability to achieve orgasm during sexual activities (P = 0.04) and they reported disappointment with their overall quality of sex life (P = 0.002). The number of attempts to initiate sexual intercourse did not differ. Sexual relationships caused none or mild anxiety and the desire to be sexually active was higher after CTRT (P = 0.05). Multivariable analysis confirmed that orgasmic dysfunction after ≥400 mg/m2 of cisplatin and issues in maintaining erection after Tx were independent of retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection (P = 0.03 and P = 0.04, respectively). Survivors were disappointed with the quality of sex life and had stronger desire to be sexually active independent of age, (P = 0.01 and P = 0.05, respectively).ConclusionsThis study identified an impairment in sexual function may represent an issue for long-term GCT survivors. Treatment with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy were associated with disappointment and stronger sexual desire, while a higher cumulative dose of cisplatin may be responsible for orgasmic dysfunction.
Highlights
Survivors of germ-cell tumors (GCT) may suffer from long-term adverse consequences
Data regarding the distribution of patients treated with radiotherapy to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes for stage I or stage II seminoma, subsequent chemotherapy for contralateral primary, and chemotherapy for relapse after radiotherapy were provided in our previous study [13]
When we assessed the age distribution we have found that GCT survivors treated with any treatment were older than ones who underwent active surveillance
Summary
Survivors of germ-cell tumors (GCT) may suffer from long-term adverse consequences. Our study was conducted to assess a long-term sexual functioning in GCT survivors. Cure for testicular GCTs entails a different need for treatment approach from orchiectomy only cured individuals to ones needing radiotherapy to retroperitoneal lymph nodes, adjuvant chemotherapy, one line of chemotherapy, post-chemotherapy surgery or salvage chemotherapy including high-dose regimens [2,3,4,5,6,7]. Each of these approaches bring the different burden of morbidity to GCT survivors. Our study aimed to independently assess the self-reported sexual issues in long-term GCT survivors and to investigate the impact of distinct treatment modalities and cumulative burden of given-treatments
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