Long-Term Complications of Testicular Cancer

A diagnosis of testicular cancer can be very frightening. However, the long-term side effects of testicular cancer, whether or not it is in remission, are often an unknown quotient for many patients. Understanding these side effects, their causes and their treatments is a step toward finding peace of mind for many survivors.

Drug-Related Complications

• Many of the drugs used to combat testicular cancer have serious side effects. Blood vessel damage, nerve damage, hearing loss and lung damage are a few of the more serious of these effects. Because the drugs used to fight cancer can attack the body in various ways, long-term care plans often cover how to prevent damage from occurring or how to deal with the side effects. These effects rarely become as life threatening as the cancer itself. In extremely rare cases, cancer may reoccur as a result of treatment---and prognoses vary considerably in these few cases.

Pulmonary Toxicity

• Pulmonary toxicity is the medical term for any side effect that damages the lungs. It has been determined conclusively that pulmonary side effects can be caused by chemotherapy treatment. However, peer-reviewed studies published on University of Pennsylvania's OncoLink have determined that such side effects are reversible if a testicular cancer survivor follows his care regimen. Long-term loss of lung functionality is not a common concern for most survivors.

Heart Problems

• The cardiovascular side effects of cancer treatment can sometimes be rather serious. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, 80 percent of patients had higher cholesterol levels following treatment for testicular cancer, and 25 percent experienced high blood pressure. These changes may be due to loss of testosterone, which promotes heart health. Prognosis is good for cancer survivors who develop heart issues, provided that they follow a program of exercise and healthy diet, and avoid risk factors such as smoking.

Loss of Hearing

• Loss of hearing (known as diminished audiometric function) can be a relatively severe side effect of testicular cancer treatment. Long term studies published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology indicate that treatment may cause a considerable degree of audiometric damage, but that most of this damage occurs outside of the range of the human's ability to hear. While the damage is not life threatening, it is permanent.

Sterility

• Approximately one-quarter of testicular cancer survivors have sterility issues following treatment according to a study published by the University of Florida Sands Cancer Center. Tests with these individuals showed no sperm count for two to five years (sometimes more) after treatment. Moreover, this same study showed that 68 percent of these individuals reported some measure of testicular dysfunction after surgery. While not life threatening, sterility issues can seriously impact the lives of survivors.

Renal Issues

• Kidney problems, referred to in the medical community as renal issues, are a common side effect of chemotherapy treatment according to a study published at OncoLink. Late follow-up suggests that, while the loss of kidney function following cancer treatment may not be life threatening on its own, it may prove to be dangerous later on in life. Because renal function affects many other systems and organs in the body, the results of loss of kidney function may be manifested in weakness to other organs.