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Associations among hormonal status, quality of life and sexual functions in patients many years after succesive treatment of testicular cancer
Article published in Urologia Polska 2006/59/3.

authors

Paweł Wiechno 1, Małgorzata Sadowska 1, Krzysztof Kubiak 2, Tomasz Demkow 1, Janina Kamińska 3
1 Klinika Nowotworów Układu Moczowego, Centrum Onkologii - Instytut w Warszawie
2 Poradnia Zdrowia Psychicznego SPZ ZOZ SOLEC w Warszawie
3 Zakład Markerów Nowotworowych, Centrum Onkologii - Instytut w Warszawie

keywords

testicular cancer, hormonal status, quality of life

summary

Introduction and the aim of the study. We establish the rate of hormonal abnormalities and their influence on testicular cancer survivors' quality of life.
Material and methods. 83 testicular cancer survivors were included into the study. Patient's age ranged from 22 to 69 years. Patients rated physical, psychological well-being, quality of life, completed Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Beck's Depression Inventory, STAI Inventory and Sexual Functionig Questionaire (SFQ). Levels of following hormons were determined: testosterone, estradiol, free tyroxin, thyreothropic hormone (TSH), folicule stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH). Associations among levels of hormones and rates in questionaires were analysed.
Results. 64% of patients had hormonal abnormalities. Rate of patients with abnormal anxiety levels was 20% or 29%, depression rate was 14% or 17% - depending on the scale used. Patients with low testosterone were more anxious as STAI scale showed (p=0.03). High LH levels correlated with depression in HAD scale (p=0.023). LH over normal range correlated with ejaculation problems and lowered sexual activity (p=0.012 and p=0.017). High FSH corelated with worse physical well-being (p=0.026). TSH below normal range correlated with higher ranges in both depression scales - HADS and Beck's inventory (p=0.030 and p=0.014), worse psychological well-being (p=0.006), lowered self-esteem of masculinity (p=0.002), imapaired erection (p=0.003), lowered libido (p=0.002), less satisfactoty sexual life (p=0.002).
Conclusions. Testicular Cancer survivors had abnormal hormon levels in above of 60% of cases. That can influence anxiety and depression levels, physical and psychological well-being and sexual functioning.

references

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correspondence

Paweł Wiechno
Klinika Nowotworów Układu Moczowego
ul. Roentgena 5
02-781 Warszawa
tel./fax (022) 546 27 22
wiechnop@o2.pl