Diagnosing Testicular Cancer
If a person has possible symptoms of testicular cancer, doctors will need to:
- Perform a physical exam
- Ask about the patient's personal and family medical history
- Recommend additional tests and procedures to examine the testicles.
Exams and tests used to make a diagnosis of testicular cancer may include:
- Blood tumor marker tests
- An ultrasound
- An inguinal orchiectomy with biopsy.
Stages of Testicular Cancer
If a testicular cancer diagnosis is made, the doctor will need to determine the testicular cancer stage, or extent, of the disease in order to plan the best testicular cancer treatment.
Testicular cancer staging is an attempt to find out the size of the tumor, whether the disease has spread, and if so, to what parts of the body. The doctor may determine the stage of testicular cancer at the time of diagnosis or the patient may need more tests.
The following stages are used for testicular cancer:
- Stage 0
- Stage I
- Stage II
- Stage III
- Recurrent.
Treating Testicular Cancer
Although the incidence of testicular cancer has risen in recent years, more than 95 percent of cases can be cured. Testicular cancer treatment is more likely to be successful when the cancer is found early.
Testicular cancer treatments vary based on:
- The type of testicular cancer
- The testicular cancer stage
- The patient's age
- The patient's general health.
Treatments for testicular cancer include:
Treatment may result in side effects. These side effects vary, depending on which method is used to treat the cancer. Patients should work with their doctor to develop a treatment plan that meets their medical needs and personal values. Choosing the most appropriate testicular cancer treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, the patient's family, and the healthcare team.
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