Helena Gleeson, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Learning Objectives:
Identify signs and symptoms of gonadal dysfunction among cancer survivor men.
Request for appropriate investigations.
Initiate hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle measures as appropriate.
Initiate appropriate treatment and referrals in relation to fertility.
Last decade has seen significantly improved survival outcomes in patients with various cancers. Various childhood cancers, haematological cancers and testicular cancers have shown very good long-term survivals after diagnosis and appropriate treatment of their malignancies. Cancer itself (eg. testicular cancers) or various modalities of treatment including chemotherapy and radiation can affect gonadal function and fertility. Both primary and secondary hypogonadism can occur as a complication of cancer or its oncological treatment. Surgery or radiation to testes and gonadotoxic systemic chemotherapy results in primary hypogonadism; whilst surgery and or radiation involving pituitary and hypothalamic area can cause secondary hypogonadism. Development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and various lifestyle factors can contribute to secondary hypogonadism in cancer survivors. As the number of cancer survivors is on rise, it is important to develop appropriate awareness and education about these disorders among endocrinology practitioners to improve outcomes in terms of quality of life and fertility outcomes for these patients. In this presentation we aim to discuss various causes of gonadal dysfunction, diagnostic evaluation, and long-term management options for the cancer survivor men.
