Testicular cancer and long-term side effects

Testicular cancer affects approximately 300 men annually in Denmark. Most are cured, but many have long-term side effects. A relatively frequent side effect is a low level of the male hormone, testosterone. Experience has shown that men often live with symptoms for a long time before low testosterone is diagnosed. At the same time, knowledge is limited about how low testosterone affects the health and working lives of these men, and whether treatment with testosterone is effective and safe. The aim of this project is to acquire greater knowledge of the consequences of low testosterone in men who have survived testicular cancer, and of the effects and safety of the treatment.

 “We utilise Danish register data across hospital contacts, use of medication and social factors to investigate and describe patterns of ill-health in a national group of testicular cancer survivors. We will make use of modern analytical methods, with which it is possible to investigate the effect and safety of testosterone treatment in a way that is similar to a random selection trial,” says Marie Juul Ørnstrup, Senior Registrar at the Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital.

The project aims to:

1. map out how frequently and how fast low testosterone occurs after treatment for testicular cancer.
2. investigate the effects on health, work and incomes by comparing testicular cancer survivors with and without low testosterone with men in the general population.
3. describe how testosterone treatment is given in practice, including start, maintenance and type of administration.
4. evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with testosterone.
   The aim is to detect cancer earlier and provide more knowledge-based treatment, which potentially can improve quality of life, health and availability for the labour market.