The Facts on
Testicular Cancer
- Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy
in young men between the ages of 20 and 34. There are about 7500 new
cases yearly, with approximately 350 deaths per year in the US.
- Testicular cancer is more common in white men
than black or Asian.
- Although it accounts for only about 1 percent
of all cancers in men, it is the number one cancer killer among men in
their 20's and 30's.
- Most testicular cancers are self-discovered by
patients as a painless or uncomfortable lump in the testicle. About
1-3% of testicular neoplasms are bilateral.
- Pure seminomas constitute roughly 40% of all
testicular cancer cases. Forty percent of the testicular cancers have
mixture of histology.
- The cancer risk for boys with a history of
undescended testicles is about 10-40 times higher than normal
individuals. The risk of developing the disease was estimated at 1 out
of 20 for a testis retained in the abdomen and 1 out of 80 if it was
within the inguinal canal. The risk remains elevated after surgical
correction. Both testis are at higher risk, not just the undescended
one.
- If found early, testicular cancer is almost
always curable.
- Early stage testicular cancer can be treated
with surgery and radiation therapy. Late stage testicular cancer can be
treated with the combination of surgery, radiation therapy and/or
chemotherapy.
- The prognosis for men with testicular cancer is
very good, even with late stage disease. The chances of recovery are
excellent with surgery and radiotherapy for early stage disease.
Combined modality is used for treatment of late stage disease with good
results.
- More than 90% of testicular cancer patients are
cured by their initial treatment, and many of those who have recurrent
disease can also be cured with chemotherapy or radiation.
