Urological Survivorship Issues Among Adolescent Boys and Young Men Who Are Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND

Urological survivorship issues encompass an area that may potentially be overlooked after treatment of childhood cancer in adolescent boys and young men. Side effects of cancer therapy may include subsequent development of erectile dysfunction (ED), hypogonadism, and infertility in adulthood.

AIM

The purpose of this review is to focus on the etiology and prevalence of the range of sexual and gonadal dysfunction in adolescent boys and young men who are cancer survivors, while discussing current recommendations for evaluation and treatment.

METHODS

We performed a literature review of articles evaluating hypogonadism, sexual dysfunction, ED, and infertility in young men cancer survivors.

OUTCOMES

There is compelling evidence that significant survivorship issues are faced by boys entering adulthood after completing cancer therapy.

RESULTS

Overall, young men cancer survivors are much more likely to report symptoms of sexual dysfunction than the general population of men. These patients can develop ED due to physiologic and psychological changes that take place with diagnosis of a malignancy and subsequent treatment. Primary hypogonadism can arise due to pelvic radiation or chemotherapy, and central hypogonadism may arise from pituitary insufficiency after brain radiation or surgery. Infertility develops from direct damage to the Sertoli cells and germinal epithelium from radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Cancer survivors who are men should therefore be screened for these important urological survivorship issues, although exact surveillance strategies remain unclear.

CONCLUSIONS

Urological survivorship issues including ED, hypogonadism, and infertility are common among cancer survivors and result in significant morbidity. Due to the medical complexity of cancer survivorship, the population of adolescent and young adult survivors would benefit from a network of multidisciplinary survivorship experts to aid the transition into adulthood. Improved research efforts may help to clarify risk factors and to develop enhanced strategies for evaluation and treatment. Sukhu T, Ross S, Coward RM. Urological Survivorship Issues Among Adolescent Boys and Young Men Who Are Cancer Survivors. Sex Med Rev 2018;6:396-409.