sodium-ethylxanthate and Neoplasms--Germ-Cell-and-Embryonal

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Body Image; Humans; Libido; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Orchiectomy; Sex; Testicular Neoplasms

With the advent of effective treatment for urologic cancer, the preservation of sexual function and fertility has become an important goal. Some cancer treatments damage the physiological systems involved in reproduction. All have a psychological impact on sexuality. For men with prostate cancer, current issues in sexual rehabilitation include the debate on nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy, the role of vascular damage in causing erectile dysfunction after radiotherapy, and the need for a better understanding of hormonal effects on central and peripheral mechanisms of sexual function. In the treatment of men and women with bladder cancer, the sexual function morbidity of radical cystectomy is described in data from prospective interview studies. Sexual desire and orgasm remain normal after surgery despite disruption of the genital vasocongestion accompanying sexual arousal. Long-term follow-up studies of testicular cancer patients suggest that some increase in sexual dysfunction does occur. Infertility remains a concern for a subgroup of younger, childless men. Attempts to modify or eliminate retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy are discussed, as is recovery of spermatogenesis after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Sexual function in patients with penile, urethral, or renal cell carcinoma is briefly reviewed.

Topics: Adult; Counseling; Dysgerminoma; Female; Fertility; Genital Neoplasms, Male; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Penile Neoplasms; Prostatectomy; Prostatic Neoplasms; Sex; Testicular Neoplasms; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; Urogenital Neoplasms

The effects of therapy on the sexual ability and fertility of sixty-seven patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis were analyzed. Ten of 38 patients had subfertile sperm counts before therapy. Normal ejaculation was preserved in only 7/61 patients who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. In five of these patients, sperm analysis was done after chemotherapy; all had complete azoospermia. An effort to restore ejaculation with imipramine yielded only minimal response in 4/9 patients who received this drug. No major long-term effects on the libido were observed.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Chlorambucil; Cisplatin; Cyclophosphamide; Dactinomycin; Doxorubicin; Ejaculation; Humans; Imipramine; Infertility, Male; Libido; Lymph Node Excision; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Oligospermia; Sex; Testicular Neoplasms; Vinblastine

Topics: Adolescent; Aging; Bone Neoplasms; Burkitt Lymphoma; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Male; Melanoma; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Connective Tissue; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Sarcoma; Sex; Uganda; United States