Brief Report Course of distress and quality of life in testicular cancer patients before, during, and after chemotherapy: Results of a pilot study Peter C. Trask 1 *, Amber G. Paterson 1, Judith Fardig 2, David C. Smith 2 1Behavioral Medicine Program, University of Michigan, USA 2Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, USA email: Peter C. Trask (pctrask@umich.edu) *Correspondence to Peter C. Trask, Research Investigator, Behavioral Medicine Program, University of Michigan, 475 Market Place, Suite L Ann Arbor, MI 48108-0757, USA Abstract Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in white males between the ages of 15 and 45 years. Treatment may include the administration of chemotherapy which has been associated with changes in emotional distress, quality of life, and symptom distress in other cancers. The current study was designed to evaluate the course of these constructs in a sample of testicular cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Patients completed measures of emotional distress and quality of life prior to, during, and after chemotherapy, with symptom distress measured during chemotherapy. Thirty percent of patients reported moderate to high levels of distress at pre-treatment baseline that was associated with worse quality of life. Initial anxiety and distress decreased and stayed low through chemotherapy and post-treatment follow-up. There were no significant changes in fatigue, nausea or change in appearance during chemotherapy. The results suggest that some patients evidence pre-treatment anxiety and distress that appears to be primarily anticipatory, decreases over the course of chemotherapy, and occurs in the context of improved quality of life and reduced symptom severity. Deleterious changes in emotional distress, quality of life, and symptom distress seen in other cancer populations were not apparent in our sample of testicular cancer patients. Psycho-Oncology Volume 12, Issue 8 , Pages 814 - 820 Ann's NOTE: It is said that testicular cancer is one of the five that is truly 'curable' with chemotherapy. Knowing that should be benefical to the recipients. Combining this with good nutrition, dietary supplements, mind/body, detoxification and exercise may be beneficial. Cancer Radiother, 12/03 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.