Researchers from Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) have found that five years or more after their cancer treatment, men diagnosed with testicular cancer are more likely to develop a range of other health problems like high blood pressure, cholesterol as well as lung and hormone-related complications. If left untreated these issues could negatively impact their quality of life or cause serious illness. 

 The new research, published in the Supportive Care in Cancer peer-reviewed medical journal, recommends that these patients be regularly screened at an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) led clinic, so that heart and other medical issues can be identified early and successfully treated, thereby preventing cardiac complications from developing. 

An ANP-led screening clinic was set up at TUH in October 2022 after research in Norway and the US found that men who had previously been treated for testicular cancer were dying much younger than expected. This new paper found that 40% of these men had hypertension or high blood pressure, while 55% had dyslipidaemia, a general term for having unhealthy levels of cholesterol in the blood. 

Three of the men had died from a second malignant neoplasm. Six patients were found to have kidney issues and are now being treated by the Hospital’s Nephrology Department.

 Consultant oncologist Raheel Khan, who led this study with the support of his colleagues said, “The study identifies the need for more specialist ANP-led survivor clinics. Unlike TUH, most cancer centres do not offer any follow-up at the end of surveillance for testicular cancer patients.”