Testicular Cancer Treatment by Stage

For people with testicular cancer, treatment is often based (at least in part) on the stage, or extent, of the disease. The stage of the cancer describes how far the disease has progressed. Stages of testicular cancer include stages 0-III and recurrent cancer. The following article breaks down testicular cancer treatment by stage.

Testicular Cancer Treatments

Testicular Cancer Treatment by Stage: An Introduction

Testicular cancer treatment options vary based on:

The type of testicular cancer
The testicular cancer stage
The patient's age
The patient's general health.

In general, testicular cancer treatment options can include:

Surgery (see Testicular Cancer Surgery)
Chemotherapy (see Testicular Cancer Chemotherapy)
Radiation therapy (see Testicular Cancer Radiation Therapy).

Testicular cancer stages include:

Stage 0 (also known as a precancerous condition or carcinoma in situ)
Stage I
Stage II
Stage III
Recurrent.

Stage I Testicular Cancer

Stage I testicular cancer treatment will depend on whether the cancer is seminoma or nonseminoma.

In most cases, the treatment of seminoma involves surgery to remove the testicle, followed with or without radiation therapy to the lymph nodes in the abdomen, with lifelong follow-up.

Treatment of nonseminoma may include:

Surgery to remove the testicle and lymph nodes in the abdomen, with lifelong follow-up
Surgery to remove the testicle, followed by chemotherapy and lifelong follow-up
Surgery to remove the testicle, with lifelong follow-up.

(Testicular Cancer Treatment by Stage Continued: Page 2)