Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system. In the United States, about 8,000 to 9,000 men are diagnosed with this disease each year. Over a lifetime, the chance of getting testicular cancer is roughly 1 in 250 (4/10th of one percent). It is most common among males ages 15 through 40. Testicular cancer has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers, in excess of 90%, and essentially 100% if it has not spread. Even for the relatively few cases where it has spread widely, chemotherapy offers at least a fifty percent chance of a cure.

Famous survivors

• Decorated cyclist Lance Armstrong is a testicular cancer survivor. He once said, "It's ironic, I used to ride my bike to make a living. Now I just want to live so that I can ride."
• Canadian comedian Tom Green was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2000 and made a widely acclaimed documentary about his treatment.
• In 1997, figure skater Scott Hamilton survived a bout with testicular cancer.
• Three English footballers - Alan Stubbs, Jason Cundy and Neil Harris - also survived the condition.
• Spanish soccer goalkeeper from Real Club Deportivo de la Coruña, * José Francisco Molina Jiménez in 2001, and Bulgarian Luboslav Penev 1994 from the Valencia team, league champion and Copa del Rey with Atlético de Madrid.