Quality of life measurement in testicular cancer patients.

The linear-analogue self-assessment (LASA) technique was used to assess acute toxicity and other pertinent attributes relative to quality of life (QL) in patients with advanced testicular cancer who were entered into chemotherapy trials with either velban, Actinomycin-D, bleomycin, cisplatin, and cytoxan (VAB-6), etoposide and cisplatin (EP), or both regimens. Results showed significantly less nausea, vomiting, mucositis, and a earlier return to normal physical activity with EP versus VAB-6. The LASA method appears to be a valid measure of acute toxicity to chemotherapy in testicular cancer patients and provides objective QL information for patients entered into prospective clinical trials.