Medication
The drugs most commonly used to treat testicular cancer are: cisplatin. This combination is called BEP chemotherapy. Some men have a drug called carboplatin. You may have other combinations of chemotherapy drugs. This will depend on the stage and type of testicular cancer, or if it has come back after treatment.
Procedures
So does it cure cancer? In some cases the answer is yes. In several types of Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chemotherapy is delivered with the intent to rid the body of cancer and bring about a cure. This is true for some subtypes of leukemia as well, and to a lesser degree other cancers with solid tumors.
Therapy
The effectiveness of chemotherapy for cancer has been an issue that has been long debated in the medical community. Some put the effectiveness using the chemotherapy at as little as 2 percent to 4 percent. Others say the results of using chemotherapy for cancer are much higher.
Nutrition
- Are elderly
- Have poor nutrition
- Are obese
- Have already taken or are currently taking other medicines
- Have already had or are currently getting radiation therapy
- Have low blood cell counts
- Have liver or kidney diseases
- May otherwise be unable to tolerate full doses
What type of chemotherapy is used to treat testicular cancer?
Does chemotherapy really cure cancer?
What is the success rate of chemotherapy for treating cancer?
How to cure cancer without chemotherapy or surgery?
What type of chemotherapy is used for testicular cancer?
The chemo regimens most commonly used as the first treatment for testicular cancer are: BEP (or PEB): bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin. EP: etoposide and cisplatin. VIP: VP-16 (etoposide) or vinblastine plus ifosfamide and cisplatin.
How many cycles of chemo does it take for testicular cancer?
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.
Can testicular cancer come back after chemo?
Most of the time, if the cancer comes back, it does so in the first 2 years. Still, there's always an outside chance the cancer can come back later. There's also a small chance that you'll develop a new cancer in the other testicle, so report any changes in your remaining testicle to your doctor.
Can recurrent testicular cancer be cured?
Some types of recurring testicular cancer have a cure rate of over 95%. Recurrences that happen after previous combination chemotherapy can also be cured, but the chances of this will vary between individuals and you'll need to ask your doctors to discuss this with you.
Does testicular cancer respond well to chemo?
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.
What is EP chemotherapy?
Etoposide and cisplatin chemotherapy (EP) is a combination chemotherapy treatment used to treat different types of cancer. It is best to read this information with our general information about chemotherapy and the type of cancer you have.
What happens when testicular cancer comes back?
Even testicular cancers that come back can usually be cured. If your cancer comes back after treatment you will probably have more chemotherapy or you might have radiotherapy to the lymph nodes in your abdomen. You may have surgery to remove a cancer that has spread to the lung (secondary lung cancer) or lymph nodes.
Is it common to get testicular cancer twice?
Compared with most men in the general population, testicular cancer survivors are up to twice as likely to develop a new cancer outside the testicle. The chance of a second cancer changes over time and depends on which treatments were used and how old the patient was when he was treated.
How do you know if testicular cancer has returned?
Generally, because the entire testicle is removed, it's pretty rare that cancer will return locally. Your blood test results are important too. Doctors can notice signs — like a rising beta-hCG or AFP in your blood — that may indicate that cancer has returned.
How is BEP chemo administered?
How you have BEP. You have these drugs into your bloodstream, usually through a long line: a central line, a PICC line or a portacath. These are long, plastic tubes that give the drugs into a large vein in your chest. The tube stays in place throughout the course of your treatment.
How curable is metastatic testicular cancer?
Over 70% of patients with metastatic testicular cancer will be cured with BEP. Approximately half of patients who are not cured with their initial chemotherapy will still be cured with high-dose chemotherapy.
Where is the first place testicular cancer spreads?
Therefore, testis cancer has a very predictable pattern of spread. The first place these cancers typically spread is to the lymph nodes around the kidneys, an area called the retroperitoneum.
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), ...
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.
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 to treat recurrent germ cell tumors?
Cancer that comes back in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes can be treated by surgery to remove the nodes (RPLND) if the recurrence is small and if the only surgical treatment given before was orchiectomy.
Where is seminoma most often found?
These are most often in the lung or in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Further treatment at this point depends on the type of cancer: A stage III seminoma that's still there after chemo or doesn’t “light up” on a PET scan, will be watched with CT scans to see if it grows. If it does, more treatment is needed.
What is the treatment for testicular cancer?
Should a man develop a testicular cancer recurrence, he will typically be treated with one or more of the following options, depending on the treatments that were used for his original tumor: Combination chemotherapy (two or more chemotherapy medications given at the same time) High-dose chemotherapy with a bone marrow transplant.
How long does it take for testicular cancer to recur?
A small percentage of men with testicular cancer will experience a recurrence at some point in their lives, although most recurrent tumors develop within one to two years after the initial tumors have been treated.
How to treat testicular cancer?
Radical inguinal orchiectomy. Treatment of testicular cancer usually starts with surgery to remove the testicle with cancer, called a radical inguinal orchiectomy. This operation is done through an incision in the groin along the beltline.
How many cycles of chemotherapy for testicular cancer?
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.
What is the name of the team that treats testicular cancer?
This is called a multidisciplinary team. For testicular cancer, this team includes a urologist and a medical oncologist . A medical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medication. Sometimes, patients may also see a radiation oncologist. A radiation oncologist is a doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer. Cancer care teams include a variety of other health care professionals, such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, oncology nurses, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, dietitians, and others.
What is standard of care for testicular cancer?
This section explains the types of treatments that are the standard of care for testicular cancer. “Standard of care” means the best treatments known. When making treatment plan decisions, you are encouraged to consider clinical trials as an option.
How long does chemo last?
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.
Where does cancer go after chemo?
After chemotherapy (see below), some cancer may still remain in the lungs, liver, or other organs or in the lymph nodes in the pelvis, chest, or neck. For people with non-seminomas, these tumors should also be removed if it is safe to do so. This may involve surgery in more than 1 part of the body.
What is a radiation oncologist?
A radiation oncologist is a doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer. Cancer care teams include a variety of other health care professionals, such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, oncology nurses, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, dietitians, and others.
What are the two prognostication models for testicular cancer?
There are two major prognostication models for testicular cancer: staging,
Where is stage 2 testicular cancer?
Stage II testicular cancer involves the testis and the retroperitoneal or peri-aortic lymph nodes usually in the region of the kidney. Retroperitoneal involvement should be further characterized by the number of nodes involved and the size of involved nodes. The risk of recurrence is increased if more than five nodes are involved or if the size of one or more involved nodes is more than 2 cm. Bulky stage II disease (stage IIC) describes patients with extensive retroperitoneal nodes (>5 cm), which portends a less favorable prognosis.
What is stage 3 cancer?
Stage III implies spread beyond the retroperitoneal nodes based on physical examination, imaging studies, and/or blood tests (i.e., patients with retroperitoneal adenopathy and highly elevated serum tumor markers are stage III). Stage III can be further stratified based on the location of metastasis and the degree of elevation of serum tumor markers. In the favorable group (IIIA), metastases are limited to lymph nodes and lung, and serum tumor markers are no more than mildly elevated. Stage IIIB patients have moderately elevated tumor markers, while stage IIIC patients have highly elevated markers and/or metastases to liver, bone, brain or some organ other than the lungs. These subclassifications of stage III correspond to the International Germ Cell Consensus Classification system for disseminated germ cell tumors. [ 2]
What is BEP chemotherapy?
Four cycles of bleomycin plus etoposide plus cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy as a standard-of-care treatment option for patients with metastatic testicular germ cell tumors was established by a randomized trial showing that it produced similar outcomes with fewer toxic effects in comparison with cisplatin, vinblastine, and bleomycin (PVB). [ 3] Two randomized trials comparing four courses of BEP with four courses of etoposide plus ifosfamide plus cisplatin (VIP) showed similar OS and time-to-treatment failure for the two regimens in patients with intermediate- and poor-risk advanced disseminated germ cell tumors who had not received prior chemotherapy. [ 4 - 6 ] [ Level of evidence: 1iiA] Hematologic toxic effects were substantially worse with the VIP regimen. For good-risk patients, two randomized trials compared three versus four cycles of BEP and reported no significant benefit from longer treatment in that population. [ 7 - 9]
What percentage of testicular tumors are seminomas?
[ 1] . Less than 50% of malignant testicular germ cell tumors have a single cell type, of which roughly 50% are seminomas.
How many people fathered children after testicular cancer?
In two, large studies, roughly 70% of patients actually fathered children after treatment for testicular cancer. [ 33, 34] The likelihood of recovering fertility is related to the type of treatment received.
How many people will die from testicular cancer in 2021?
Incidence and Mortality. Estimated new cases and deaths from testicular cancer in the United States in 2021: [ 1] New cases: 9,470. Deaths: 440. Testicular cancer is a highly treatable, usually curable, cancer that most often develops in young and middle-aged men. Most testicular cancers are germ cell tumors.
How to treat stage 2 testicular cancer?
Treatment of seminoma may include the following: When the tumor is 5 centimeters or smaller: Surgery to remove the testicle, followed by radiation therapy to lymph nodes in the abdomen and pelvis.
What is testicular cancer?
Key Points. Testicular cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of one or both testicles. Health history can affect the risk of testicular cancer. Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include swelling or discomfort in the scrotum. Tests that examine the testicles and blood are used to detect (find) ...
What are the risk factors for testicular cancer?
Risk factors for testicular cancer include: Having had an undescended testicle. Having had abnormal development of the testicles. Having a personal history of testicular cancer. Having a family history of testicular cancer (especially in a father or brother).
What is a tumor marker test?
Serum tumor marker test: A procedure in which a sample of blood is examined to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs, tissues, or tumor cells in the body. Certain substances are linked to specific types of cancer when found in increased levels in the blood.
What is the process of finding out if a cancerous cell has spread?
The process used to find out if cancer has spread within the testicles or to other parts of the body is called staging.
How long after chemotherapy can you get a PET scan?
Surveillance for tumors smaller than 3 centimeters and surgery to remove tumors larger than 3 centimeters. A PET scan two months after chemotherapy and surgery to remove tumors that show up with cancer on the scan. A clinical trial of chemotherapy.
How does chemo work?
When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body ( systemic chemotherapy ). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas ( regional chemotherapy ). The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
