A new study raises questions about the quality of life benefits of radiation therapy in the treatment of testicular cancer, according to the July 15, 2002 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics.
The standard treatment for Stage I seminoma, a common form of testicular cancer, is removal of the testicle followed by radiation therapy. Radiation therapy reduces the likelihood of recurrence by 15 percent, but does not improve survival.
Using health utilities, researchers set out to assess the quality of life benefits associated with adjuvant radiation therapy in this setting. In the study, 100 healthy men were interviewed using a utility assessment tool. Utilities (preferences) for five health states were measured using the standard gamble technique:
(A) adjuvant radiation therapy with 5 percent recurrence risk,
(B) recurrence after radiation therapy, salvaged with chemotherapy,
(C) removal of the testicle alone with 20 percent recurrence risk,
(D) recurrence after removal of the testicle alone, salvaged with radiation therapy and
(E) recurrence after removal of the testicle alone, salvaged with chemotherapy
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