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Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The
information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation,
advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
Stage 0
In stage 0, abnormal cells are found only in the tiny tubules where the sperm cells begin to develop. The cells do not
invade normal tissues. This is sometimes called a "precancerous condition." Stage 0 cancer is also called
High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant is a method of giving high doses of chemotherapy and replacing blood-forming
cells destroyed by the cancer treatment. Stem cells (immature blood cells) are removed from the blood or bone marrow of the
patient or a donor and are frozen and stored. After the chemotherapy is completed, the stored stem cells are thawed and given
back to the patient through an infusion. These reinfused stem cells grow into (and restore) the body's blood cells.
Lifelong follow-up exams are very important for men who have had testicular cancer.
Men who have had testicular cancer have an increased risk of developing cancer in the other testicle. A patient is advised
to regularly check the other testicle and report any unusual symptoms to a doctor right away.
Lifelong clinical exams are very important. The patient will probably have checkups once per month during the first year
after surgery, every other month during the next year, and less often after that.
Treatment Options by Stage
Stage I Testicular Cancer:
:Treatment of stage I testicular cancer depends on whether the cancer is a seminoma or a nonseminoma.
Treatment of seminoma is usually surgery to remove the testicle, with or without radiation therapy to lymph nodes in the
abdomen after the surgery, with lifelong follow-up.
Treatment of nonseminoma may include the following:
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-u
Stage II Testicular Cancer:
:Treatment of stage II testicular cancer depends on whether the cancer is a seminoma or a nonseminoma.
Treatment of seminoma may include the following:
When the tumor is 5 centimeters or smaller, treatment is usually surgery to remove the testicle followed by radiation
therapy to lymph nodes in the abdomen and pelvis, with lifelong follow-up.
When the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters, treatment is usually surgery to remove the testicle followed by combination
chemotherapy or radiation therapy to lymph nodes in the abdomen and pelvis, with lifelong follow-up.
Treatment of nonseminoma may include the following:
Surgery to remove the testicle and lymph nodes, with lifelong follow-up.
Surgery to remove the testicle and lymph nodes, followed by combination chemotherapy and lifelong follow-up.
Surgery to remove the testicle followed by combination chemotherapy and a second surgery if cancer remains, with lifelong
follow-up.
Combination chemotherapy before surgery to remove the testicle, for cancer that has spread and is thought to be life-threatening.
A clinical trial of combination chemotherapy instead of removing the lymph nodes.
Stage III Testicular Cancer:
:Treatment of stage III testicular cancer depends on whether the cancer is a seminoma or a nonseminoma.
Treatment of seminoma may include the following:
Surgery to remove the testicle followed by combination chemotherapy. Any tumor remaining after treatment will need lifelong
follow-up.
A clinical trial of a new therapy.
A clinical trial of high-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow transplant.
Treatment of nonseminoma may include the following:
Surgery to remove the testicle, followed by combination chemotherapy.
Combination chemotherapy followed by surgery to remove any remaining tumor. Additional chemotherapy may be given if the
tumor tissue removed contains cancer cells that are growing.
Combination chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy to the brain for cancer that has spread to the brain.
Combination chemotherapy before surgery to remove the testicle, for cancer that has spread and is thought to be life-threatening.
A clinical trial of a new therapy.
A clinical trial of high-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow transplant
Treatment of recurrent testicular cancer may include the following:
Combination chemotherapy.
High-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow transplant.
Surgery to remove cancer that has either:
come back more than 2 years after complete remission; or
come back in only one place and does not respond to chemotherapy.
A clinical trial of a new therapy.
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