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.

Treatment

There are three basic types of treatment: surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Related Topics:
Surgery - Radiation therapy - Chemotherapy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While it is possible, in many cases, to remove testicular cancer tumors from a testicle while leaving it functional, this is rarely done. Since only one testicle is sufficient for fertility, hormone production, and other male functions, surgery to remove the afflicted testicle is virtually always done (an appropriate exception would be in the case of the second testicle later developing cancer as well).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the case of nonseminomas that appear to be stage 1, surgery is often done on the lower lymph nodes (in a separate operation) to better determine whether the cancer is in stage 1 or 2. However, this approach, while standard in many places, is also omitted at many cancer centers because of the significant possibility of nerve damage.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Surgery can be done in other parts of the body where (in rare cases) there are tumors for which this is appropriate; this may occur before or after chemotherapy or radiation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Radiation therapy is not effective on nonseminomas. It can be given to treat stage 2 seminoma cancers, or as preventive (adjuvant or primary) therapy, in the case of stage 1 cancers, to minimize the likelihood that tiny (non-detectable) tumors exist and will spread. Chemotherapy as an alternative to radiation therapy is increasing, because radiation therapy has more significant long-term side affects (internal scarring, for example).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Chemotherapy is the standard treatment, with or without radiation, when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (that is, stage 2 or 3). It is also an option for stage 1 nonseminomas, as preventive (adjuvant) therapy, particularly for higher-risk cases. The standard chemotherapy protocol is 3 to 4 rounds of BEP (Bleomycin-Etoposide-Cisplatin). This treatment was developed by Dr. Lawrence Einhorn.

Related Topics:
Bleomycin - Etoposide - Cisplatin - Lawrence Einhorn

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While treatment success depends on the stage, the average survival rate (five year) is around 95%, and stage 1 cancers cases (if monitored properly) have essentially a 100 percent survival rate (which is why prompt action, when testicular cancer is a possibility, is so important).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Surgery (orchiectomy) is done by a urologist; radiation therapy is done by a radiation oncologist; and chemotherapy is done by a general oncologist.

Related Topics:
Orchiectomy - Urologist - Oncologist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~