leydig cell tumor

[chrisr10]

i was diagnosed with this today....i googled it and it says its sometimes benign and sometimes malignant...... my doctor said its always malignant....could my age be a factor? im 46....... plus google says if it is malignant, chemo and radiation dont work and the mean survival is 2 years..does anyone know about this type of tumor?

[Fed]

(I moved this to a separate thread to denote the topic change)
Hi Chris,

Welcome to the forum. It is my understanding that a Leydig cell tumor is usually benign, though I would have to research this further. I believe that if it is deemed malignant, surgery is the way to get rid of it. Once I find out more, I'll post here again.

Fed

[Already Bald]

Chris, I don't have any idea what it is- but I am not a doctor or scientist.
Based on what I've just read here, I would seek second, and even a third opinion.
Best,

[Scott]

The Testicular Cancer Resource Center recommends, as Joe did, a second opinion for men diagnosed with a Leydig cell tumor. I assume you've had an orchiectomy already?

Everything I'm finding says a Leydig cell tumor is benign 90% of the time.

[Paul54]

Chris,
I've been looking into this as well, and probably read much of the info you found. LC is so rare that there isn't very much, and some is very old. For example, the paper that mentions the low survival rate talks about advance (metasticized) tumor and was dated 1991. Like TC, I believe there have been many advances in treatment and survival since then. Like the more common TC's, the first line of treatment is an orchiectomy, which frequently is all that is needed.

According to some data, the average age at diagnosis is 46.5 years, so I don't think your outlook is any worse.

I notice that some of the papers are by Einhorn and colleagues at Indiana University. He is consider the world expert in TC and is credited with developing most of the treatments that have saved so many. If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend that you consult with him either directly or through your local specialist. Einhorn has seen it all, and you will be in the best of hands.

Our prayers and best wishes are with you. Let us know how it goes.
Paul

[Fish]

Hi Chris,

Most of my reading has also indicated that Leydig cell tumors are usually benign. However, as other have suggested, having an evaluation by Einhorn or another center of excellence would definitely be a great idea. Very few doctors see TC, and Leydig cell tumors are even more rare, so you want to find someone who knows what they're looking at.

Best wishes.