Treatment:

Treatment depends on the:

• Type of tumor
• Stage of the tumor
• Extent of the disease

Most patients can be cured.

Once cancer is found, the first step is to determine the type of cancer cell by examining it under a microscope. The cells can be seminoma or nonseminoma. If both seminoma and nonseminoma cells are found in a single tumor, the tumor is treated as a nonseminoma.

The next step is to determine how far the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This is called "staging."

• 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 be as far as the liver or lungs).

Three types of treatment can be used.

1. Surgical treatment removes the testicle (orchiectomy) and associated lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy). This is usually performed in the case of both seminoma and nonseminomas.
2. Radiation therapy using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays may be used after surgery to prevent the tumor from returning. Radiation therapy is usually only used for treating seminomas.
3. Chemotherapy uses drugs such as cisplatin, bleomycin, and etoposide to kill cancer cells. This treatment has greatly improved survival for patients with both seminomas and nonseminomas.

Support Groups:

Joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems can often help the stress of illness. Your local branch of the American Cancer Society may have a support group.

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 also offers such information. Visit their website at www.cancer.gov.

Expectations (prognosis):

Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable cancers.

The survival rate for men with early-stage seminoma (the least aggressive type of testicular cancer) is greater than 95%. The disease-free survival rate for Stage II and III cancers is slightly lower, depending on the size of the tumor and when treatment is begun.

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:

• Infertility (if both testicles are removed)
• Damage to nerves that control erection, leading to impotence

If you are of childbearing age, ask your doctor about nerve-sparing surgery and 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.