Treatment:

Treatment of a Leydig cell tumor depends on its stage.

• Stage I cancer has not spread beyond the testicle.
• Stage II cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the abdomen.
• Stage III cancer has spread beyond the lymph nodes (it could have spread as far as the liver, lungs, or brain)

Surgery is done to remove the testicle (orchiectomy), and it may also remove nearby lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy).

Chemotherapy uses drugs such as cisplatin, bleomycin, and etoposide to kill cancer cells. Because Leydig cell tumors are rare, these treatments have not been studied as well as they have for other, more common testicular cancers.

Support Groups:

Joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems can often help ease the stress of illness. Your local branch of the American Cancer Society may have a support group. See: www.cancer.org for more information.

Lance Armstrong, a famous cyclist, is a survivor of testicular cancer. His web site -- www.laf.org -- offers support and information for patients with testicular cancer.

The National Cancer Institute website also provides further information: www.cancer.gov.

Expectations (prognosis):

Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable and curable cancers.

Complications:

Testicular cancer may spread to other parts of the body. The most common sites include the:

• Abdomen
• Lungs
• Retroperitoneal area (the area near the kidneys)
• Spine

Complications of surgery can include:

• Bleeding and infection
• Infertility (if both testicles are removed)

If you are of childbearing age, ask your doctor about methods to save your sperm for use at a later date.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of testicular cancer.