[Cured of testicular cancer; does life just go on?]

From 1976 through 1979 we have treated 91 patients with disseminated non-seminomatous testicular cancer with induction chemotherapy comprising cisplatin, vinblastine and bleomycin. After 4 induction cycles complete responders went on to receive maintenance therapy with cisplatin and vinblastine for a median of one year. Fifty-seven patients (63%) are at present alive and free of disease. Seven to ten years after the start of treatment we have investigated their physical, mental and social situation by means of a questionnaire and by collection of data from the charts. It appeared that 90% of the respondents were fully employed. However, over half of the men reported symptoms of polyneuropathy and 40% experienced sexual function disturbances. Part of these problems were due to the maintenance chemotherapy, which has been abandoned in our country since 1982.