Testicular cancer treatment poses risk

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OSLO, Norway, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Testicular cancer survivors face several challenges including treatment-caused illnesses, Norwegian medical researchers say.

The study, published in the Journal of the British Association of Urological Surgeons, finds about one-quarter of testicular cancer survivors develop long-term neurologic, hearing and circulation problems and they are twice as likely to develop a secondary cancer.

Other long-term problems include heart ailments and conditions related to lower hormone levels.

However, lead author Sophie Fossa of the Norwegian Radium Hospital at the University of Oslo says the researchers were surprised to learn that testicular cancer survivors report health-related quality of life similar to age-matched controls.

In addition, up to 80 percent who attempt fatherhood after treatment succeeded, Fossa says.

The study findings are based on a review of 40 studies published between 1990-2008.

"Current patients with testicular cancer should be informed about the risk of short-term and particularly long-term side-effects of their highly effective treatment," Fossa says in a statement.