Knowledge Deficit About How Chemotherapy Affects Long-Term Survival in Testicular Tumor Patients

Patients with germ cell tumors have a good prognosis, which is partly due to platin-based chemotherapy. However, the long-term effects of CTx may play a relevant role in the long-term effects. Up to now, little is known about the knowledge that testicular tumor survivors have about these long-term effects.

A survey of testicular tumor patients treated at the University Hospital Dresden from 2011 up to 2021 was conducted. Patients who had received CTx were asked about their knowledge of the therapy and long-term effects.

Of the 279 returns (6 deceased, 46 unavailable, 64% response), 198 patients had received CTx. This was followed up by 63 different urologists. The follow-up period was 5.3 ± 2.9 years. A total of 5% (10/197) did not remember receiving CTx. A total of 55% (102/187) could not name the type of CTx. The most commonly known long-term effects were the risk of second tumors (63%) and andrological problems (59-60%). A total of 18.7% of patients did not know any long-term effects. Half of the patients (54.3%) knew a maximum of 5/14 long-term effects. In a multivariate analysis, a low educational degree (OR 2.2 (1.2-4.3); p = 0.02) and one course of carboplatin (OR 3.1 (1.1-9.3); p = 0.04) were the independent predictors for a knowledge deficit.

Germ cell tumor patients have a low level of awareness of the long-term effects of CTx. This results in a risk of inadequate prevention and follow-up, which, in turn, may have an impact on patients' long-term survival.