Treatment FAQ

how long is treatment for stage 3 testicular cancer

by Avis Donnelly Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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A cycle of chemotherapy for testicular cancer typically lasts 3 weeks. Testicular cancer may be treated with 1 to 4 cycles of chemotherapy, depending on the stage of the cancer. During treatment, a patient may receive 1 drug at a time or a combination of different drugs given at the same time.

Medication

This cancer is often curable through proper treatment. Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. If you have been diagnosed with testicular cancer, learn how to treat the stage of the cancer that is affecting you. Have the tumor surgically removed.

Procedures

What are the warning signs of testicular cancer?

  • A painless lump in the testicle.
  • Dull aching in the scrotum or the groin.
  • Varicocele (swollen blood vessels) appearing as enlarged, dark blue veins.
  • Hydrocele (fluid around the testicle) causing swelling.
  • Twisting of the testicle (torsion) may be the presenting symptom. ...
  • The affected testicle feels firmer and harder than the other.

More items...

Therapy

and awareness is as important as treatment. “Testicular cancer tends to target younger people, and those are the people who don’t want to go to the doctor and get checked up. I guess this ...

Nutrition

This is the most critical and complicated stage of testicular cancer creates when the level of tumor marker proteins becomes high. By passing through a surgery tumor is removed. Advanced medical treatments are prescribed by the cancer specialist to cure for the patient with first stage testicular cancer.

Can you cure testicular cancer?

What are the five warning signs of testicular cancer?

What specialists treat testicular cancer?

What is stage 1b testicular cancer?

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Is testicular cancer curable stage 3?

Even though stage III cancers have spread by the time they are found, most of them can still be cured. Both stage III seminomas and non-seminomas are treated with radical inguinal orchiectomy, followed by chemo.

How long can you live with Stage 3 testicular cancer?

If your cancer has metastasized, or spread, the outlook is still good, with a 5-year survival rate of 72.8% for men with stage 3 testicular cancer.

What is the treatment for stage 3 testicular cancer?

Treatment of Stage III Testicular Cancer Surgery to remove the testicle, followed by combination chemotherapy. If there are tumors remaining after chemotherapy, treatment may be one of the following: Surveillance with no treatment unless tumors grow.

Is Stage 3 testicular cancer serious?

Patients with Stage III seminoma have spread of cancer outside the testes and retroperitoneal lymph nodes and are curable in more than 90% of cases.

How long is testicular cancer treatment?

A cycle of chemotherapy for testicular cancer typically lasts 3 weeks. Testicular cancer may be treated with 1 to 4 cycles of chemotherapy, depending on the stage of the cancer. During treatment, a patient may receive 1 drug at a time or a combination of different drugs given at the same time.

Is there a stage 4 testicular cancer?

Doctors also use a cancer's stage when talking about survival statistics. The earliest stage of testicular cancer is stage 0 (also called germ cell neoplasia in situ, or GCNIS). The other stage groupings range from I (1) through III (3). There is no stage IV (4) testicular cancer.

How long is testicular cancer surgery?

The surgery usually takes about 30 minutes. The testicle is examined to check for cancer or signs that it has spread. After: You are sent to a recovery room, where you wake up or wait for the sedative to wear off. The staff will give you something if you start to feel pain.

How long is recovery after testicle removal?

Your scrotum will be swollen after surgery. This is normal. The swelling usually goes down within 2 to 4 weeks. You should be able to do most of your normal activities after 2 to 3 weeks, except for those that require a lot of physical effort.

How effective is chemotherapy for testicular cancer?

Chemotherapy is very effective in treating testicular cancer patients. Good risk patients who undergo combination chemotherapy for three cycles have a cure rate of more than 95 percent.

Can you live a normal life after testicular cancer?

This is one of the most treatable cancers. About 95% of men will survive more than 5 years after it's diagnosed. That gives you plenty of room to think about your life after surgery.

What are the chances of dying from testicular cancer?

Because testicular cancer usually can be treated successfully, a man's lifetime risk of dying from this cancer is very low: about 1 in 5,000 . If you would like to know more about survival statistics, see Testicular cancer survival rates.

Can you get an erection without testes?

Having one testicle removed need not diminish or reduce sex drive or erections. But because the testicles produce male hormones, men who have lost both of their testes may experience a reduction in sex drive and difficulty in getting and/or maintaining an erection.

Carcinoma in Situ (Stage 0) Testicular Tumors

In this stage, the cancer has not spread outside the testicle, and your tumor marker levels (like HCG and AFP) are not elevated. If CIS is diagnose...

Stage III Seminomas and Non-Seminomas

Even though stage III tumors have spread by the time they are found, most of them can still be cured.Both stage III seminomas and non-seminomas are...

Recurrent Testicular Cancer

If the cancer goes away with treatment and then comes back, it's said to have recurred or relapsed. If this happens, it’s usually within the first...

Sertoli Cell and Leydig Cell Tumors

Typically, radical inguinal orchiectomy is the treatment for Sertoli cell and Leydig cell tumors. Radiation therapy and chemo generally don't work...

More Treatment Information For Testicular Cancer

For more details on treatment options – including some that may not be addressed here – the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the Na...

What is stage 0 testicular cancer?

Carcinoma in situ (stage 0) testicular tumors. In this stage, the cancer has not spread outside the testicle, and tumor marker levels (like HCG and AFP) are not elevated. If CIS is diagnosed after surgery removes the testicle, no other treatment is needed. If CIS is found after a testicular biopsy (such as for fertility problems), ...

How often do you have to watch for stage 2 seminoma?

The doctor will then watch closely (every 3 to 6 months) for any signs that the cancer has come back .

What is the treatment for stage 2 seminoma?

Stage IIA seminomas. Radiation: After surgery to remove the testicle (radical inguinal orchiectomy), one treatment option is radiation to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. These are the lymph nodes at the back of the abdomen (belly). Usually stage II seminomas are given higher doses of radiation than stage I seminomas.

What is the procedure to remove lymph nodes?

If tumor marker levels are normal, there are 2 main options: Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND): This is surgery to remove the lymph nodes at the back of the abdomen. If the lymph nodes that were removed contain cancer, chemo (typically for 2 cycles) might be given.

How many cycles of chemo for lymph nodes?

Chemotherapy: This is typically the preferred treatment. It is usually either 4 cycles of EP (etoposide and cisplatin) or 3 cycles of BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin). Radiation: This may be an option instead of chemo if the lymph nodes aren't enlarged from cancer spread.

What is stage IB?

Choices for stage IB (T2, T3, or T4) Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND): This is surgery to remove the lymph nodes at the back of the abdomen (belly). If cancer is found in the lymph nodes, chemo is often recommended depending on the number of nodes with cancer in them. (See below.)

How many cycles of etoposide and cisplatin for stage IIC seminoma?

Stage IIC seminomas. Treatment is typically chemotherapy with 4 cycles of EP (etoposide and cisplatin) or 3 or 4 cycles of BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin). Another option might be VIP (etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin) for 4 cycles. Radiation therapy is generally not used for stage IIC seminoma.

How many cycles of chemotherapy for stage 2 testicular cancer?

For stage 2 and 3 testicular cancers, 3 to 4 cycles of chemotherapy are given using a combination of different medications. Further surgery is sometimes needed after chemotherapy to remove any affected lymph nodes or deposits in the lungs or, rarely, in the liver. Some people with stage 2 seminomas may be suitable for less intense treatment ...

How long does it take for testicular cancer to recur?

Most recurrences of non-seminoma testicular cancer occur within 2 years of surgery or completion of chemotherapy. In seminomas, recurrences still occur until 3 years. Recurrences after 3 years are rare, occurring in less than 5% of people.

Why do some people have low sperm count?

Some people with testicular cancer may have low sperm counts because of changes that occur in the testicles before the cancer develops. For some treatments, such as chemotherapy, infertility may occur, but standard chemotherapies have a less than 50% chance of causing infertility if the remaining testicle is normal.

Why do you need chemo for testicular cancer?

You may require chemotherapy if you have advanced testicular cancer or it's spread within your body. It's also used to help prevent the cancer returning.

What is the best treatment for testicular cancer?

Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are the 3 main treatments for testicular cancer. Your recommended treatment plan will depend on: The first treatment option for all cases of testicular cancer, whatever the stage, is to surgically remove the affected testicle (an orchidectomy).

What to do after testicle removed?

For stage 1 seminomas, after the testicle has been removed a single dose of chemotherapy may be given to help prevent the cancer returning. A short course of radiotherapy is also sometimes recommended. But in many cases, the chance of recurrence is low and your doctors may recommend that you're very carefully monitored over the next few years. ...

What is the instrument used to make a tummy cut?

During LRPLND, the surgeon will make a number of small cuts in your tummy. An instrument called an endoscope is inserted into 1 of the cuts. An endoscope is a thin, long, flexible tube with a light and a camera at 1 end, enabling images of the inside of your body to be relayed to an external television monitor.

What is the treatment for stage 3 cancer?

Treatment regimens for stage 3 cancer can be complex and involve many doctors, nurses, and centers. One thing that can help patients is a palliative care team. These specialized doctors, nurses, and social workers work with seriously ill patients to relieve symptoms and treatment side effects.

How to treat stage 3 melanoma?

Melanoma: Treatment for Stage 3 melanoma starts with surgery, usually with a wide berth, and local lymph nodes removal. Immuno- and targeted therapies can reduce the risk of the tumors returning—potentially along with radiation or chemotherapy, especially if the lymph node infiltration is heavy. 19 .

How many nodes does a tumor spread to?

The tumor is smaller than 5 centimeters (cm) but has spread to 4-9 nodes. The tumor is larger than 5 cm and has spread to 1 to 9 nodes. 3B: The tumor is any size but has invaded the chest wall or breast skin and is swollen, inflamed, or has ulcers. It may have also invaded up to 9 nearby nodes.

Why are there so many tests and procedures used to stage cancer?

Because cancers are so complicated, there are many tests and procedures used to stage them. These vary by type of tumor and won’t all be appropriate for every cancer. Here are a few of the standard tests and what they’re usually looking for:

What can be tested for in the blood for cancer?

Tumor blood markers: For certain cancers, doctors can test for specific cellular materials, usually proteins, in the blood. These markers can help them determine how to stage the tumor. For example, prostate cancer stage depends on blood levels of a protein called prostate-specific antigen, PSA.

What is hormone therapy?

Hormone therapy, also known as endocrine therapy, only applies to some forms of tumors—tho se that require hormones to grow —usually prostate and breast cancers. By depriving the cancer cells of hormones, this treatment can treat cancer and ease cancer symptoms.

Is stage 3 cancer more advanced than stage 1?

Being told you or a loved one has stage 3 cancer can be frightening. Stage 3 cancers are more advanced —generally, the tumors are more extensive and may have spread (metastasized) farther than stage 1 or 2—but there are effective treatments for many stage 3 cancers.

How long do people with testicular cancer live?

Survival rates can give you an idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive a certain amount of time (usually 5 years) after they were diagnosed.

What is the relative survival rate of testicular cancer?

For example, if the 5-year relative survival rate for a specific stage of testicular cancer is 90%, it means that people who have that cancer are, on average, about 90% as likely as people who don’t have that cancer to live ...

Does testicular cancer affect your outlook?

But other factors, including your age and overall health, the type of testicular cancer, and how well the cancer responds to treatment can also affect your outlook. Ask your doctor to explain how these or other factors might be important for you. People now being diagnosed with testicular cancer may have a better outlook than these numbers show.

Can cancer survival rates be predicted?

Keep in mind that survival rates are estimates and are often based on previous outcomes of large numbers of people who had a specific cancer, but they can’t predict what will happen in any particular person’s case. These statistics can be confusing and may lead you to have more questions.

Do testicular cancer survival rates apply to later?

They do not apply later on if the cancer grows, spreads, or comes back after treatment. These numbers don’t take everything into account. These survival rates are grouped based on how far the cancer has spread. But other factors, including your age and overall health, the type of testicular cancer, and how well the cancer responds ...

Understanding Testicular Cancer

Testicular Cancer is one of the most common types of cancer found in males in the United States between the age range of 30-50 years even though this form of cancer is quite rare when compared to other types of cancer. The testicle is a part of the male reproductive system and produces sperms and testosterone which is a sex hormone.

How Long Can One Live With Testicular Cancer?

Coming to the survival rate of individuals with Testicular Cancer, the 5 year survival rate is approximately more than 95%. This percentage increases substantially if testicular cancer is diagnosed in its early stages. However, the percentage of survival rate dips slightly in cases where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

How long can you survive with testicular cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the 5-year survival rate for men with testicular cancer is 95%. Survival rates are higher for early-stage cancer and lower for later-stage cancer.

What are the risk factors for testicular cancer?

Testicular cancer is most often diagnosed in men between ages 15-39 and is less common among men over 50.

What are the symptoms of testicular cancer?

While some men may never experience symptoms of testicular cancer, others may notice warning signs such as:

What are the stages of testicular cancer?

Depending on the spread, testicular cancer is divided into four stages:

How is testicular cancer treated?

Treatment depends on the cancer cell type, stage, risk of recurrence, spread, and overall health.

What is the best treatment for testicular cancer?

Surgery: Surgery is one of the best methods of treating testicular cancer and can completely eliminate cancer in the early stages and even if the testicular cancer has metastasized, it is essential to remove one or both the testicles if the cancer has affected both. Radical inguinal orchiectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection are ...

What is testicular cancer?

January 21, 2019 4 Mins Read. Testicular cancer is the cancer in the testicles, the male reproductive organ that makes hormones and sperm. To learn more about testicular cancer, read here.

Why is testicular cancer important?

The type of testicular cancer plays an important role to determine the prognosis and treatment options as the speed of growth and spreading of the testicular cancer depends on the cancer type.

How many groups are there in testicular cancer?

Testicular tumors are divided into three groups, based on how well the tumors are expected to respond to treatment of the testicular cancer.

Is seminoma a good prognosis?

For seminoma, it is good prognosis if the tumor has not spread to organs other than the lungs and the level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is normal. The levels of Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) can be at any level .

Is testicular cancer a good prognosis?

Prognosis for testicular cancer: The survival rate of testicular cancer is higher than many other cancer. Regular follow-up and review is a major factor in ensuring good outcomes, so it’s important that one attends. all follow-up appointments. Testicular tumors are divided into three groups, based on how well the tumors are expected to respond ...

Is testicular cancer bad for non-seminomas?

If the level of tumour markers is high and/or the testicular cancer has spread to other organs other than lungs, it is bad prognosis for non seminomas. Seminomas do not have poor prognosis group.

What is the treatment for stage 3 uterine cancer?

The standard treatment for stage III uterine cancer is a total abdominal hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries) with or without removal of the pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes. The surgeon will attempt to remove as much cancer as possible without causing major side ...

Where is stage 3 uterine cancer found?

Medically reviewed by Dr. C.H. Weaver M.D. Medical Editor updated 4/2019. A stage III uterine cancer extends outside the uterus, but remains confined to the pelvis. Stage IIIA cancers invade the lining of the pelvis or fallopian tubes or cancer cells can be found free in the pelvis. Stage IIIB cancer invades the vagina.

Why are progestational agents used in uterine cancer?

Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy: Progestational agents have long been used in the treatment of advanced or recurrent uterine cancer because some cancer cells respond to treatment. Well-differentiated cancers respond better to progestational agents than undifferentiated cancers.

Does adjuvant radiation help with endometrial cancer?

Taken as a whole, previous studies suggest that adjuvant radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy benefit many women with Stage III endometrial cancer. The specific treatment regimen that is chosen often varies by the characteristics of the cancer.

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Definition

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prognosis

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Pawan Katti
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatment options include radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery.
Medication

Chemotherapy: Therapy where the drugs are used to kill cells that are growing or multiplying too quickly.

Carboplatin . Cisplatin . Vinblastine . Paclitaxel . Bleomycin

Procedures

Inguinal orchiectomy: It is the procedure which involves the surgical removal of the testes.

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection: Procedure which involves the surgical removal of lymph nodes situated at the back of the abdomen.

Therapy

Hormone therapy:To stabilize the body processes by regulating the activity of the organs.

Radiation therapy:Treatment method that uses X-rays and other high energy rays to kill abnormal cells.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Basils have monoterpenes that are antioxidant
  • Berries, apples, and onions have flavonoids that are antioxidants
  • Green tea has polyphenols that have anti-cancer properties
  • Vegetables like broccoli and cabbage have antioxidant activity.

Foods to avoid:

  • Deep fried and grilled meat
  • High salt intake
  • Red meat such as bacon
  • Alcohol intake

Specialist to consult

Oncologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Summary

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When doctors assess a cancer stage, they use a system developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer. It has three parts and is called the TNM system. The letters and numbers differ from cancer to cancer, but they have the same structure:1 1. T defines the tumoritself. Doctors analyze the its size and ho…
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A Word from Verywell

  • Because cancers are so complicated, many tests and procedures are used to stage them. They vary by the type of tumor. Not all tests are appropriate for all cancers. Here are a few of the standard tests and what they check for: 1. Imaging tests:Doctors use imaging tests like X-ray, computed tomography (CT), MRI, ultrasound, and positron emission tomography (PET) scansto …
See more on verywellhealth.com

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