Quality of life assessment in testicular non-seminomatous germ cell tumour survivors

Neha Pathak, Abhishek Raj, Akhil P. Santhosh, Sudhir Kumar, K. P. Haresh, Prabhjot Singh, Brusabhanu Nayak, Shamim Ahmed Shamim, Amlesh Seth, Mukurdipi Ray, Seema Kaushal, Ranjit Kumar Sahoo, Atul Batra

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1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Patients with Germ cell tumours (GCT) are at risk of long-term toxicities due to multimodality therapy. It is debatable whether there is an impact on the quality of life(QoL) of GCT survivors. Methods: A case–control study was conducted at a tertiary care centre in India, using the EORTC QLQ C30 questionnaire, to compare the QoL between GCT survivors(disease free > 2 years) and healthy matched controls. A multivariate regression model was used to identify factors affecting QoL. Results: A total of 55 cases and 100 controls were recruited. Cases had a median age of 32 years (interquartile range, IQR 28–40 years), ECOG PS of 0–1(75%), advanced stage III (58%), chemotherapy (94%) and 66% were > 5 years from diagnosis. The median age of controls: 35 years (IQR 28–43 years). A statistically significant difference was seen for emotional (85.8 ± 14.2 vs 91.7 ± 10.4, p 0.005), social(83.0 ± 22.0 vs 95.2 ± 9.6, p < 0.001) and global scales (80.4 ± 21.1 vs 91.3 ± 9.7, p < 0.001). Cases had more nausea and vomiting(3.3 ± 7.4 vs 1.0 ± 3.9, p 0.015), pain(13.9 ± 13.9 vs 4.8 ± 9.8, p < 0.001), dyspnea(7.9 + 14.3 vs 2.7 ± 9.1, p 0.007), and appetite loss(6.7 ± 14.9 vs 1.9 ± 7.9, p 0.016) and greater financial toxicity(31.5 ± 32.3 vs 9.0 ± 16.3, p < 0.001). Adjusting for age, performance status, BMI, stage, chemotherapy, RPLND, recurrent disease, and time since diagnosis, no predictive variables were significant. Conclusion: There is a detrimental impact of history of GCT in long term survivors of GCT.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalJournal of Cancer Survivorship
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Oncology
  • Oncology(nursing)

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