Treatment Of Testicular Cancer

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[edit] Treatment Of Testicular Cancer

Treatment of germ cell tumors and testicular cancer belong into the hands of an experienced urologist with input from a major Cancer Center. Here are some 5-year survival statistics for testicular cancer and right beside it for extragonadal germ cell cancers. It might help to be reminded that in the 1970's the 5-year survival for mediastinal germ cell tumors was only 3%.

5-year survival of testicular and extragonadal germ cell cancers
Testicular cancer (seminoma)			Extragonadal germ cell cancers
Stage:	Survival:	Comments:	Location:	survival:
I	98%	orchiectomy + radiation	suprasellar (=pinealoma)	76%
II	93%	orchiectomy + radiation + cisplatinum combination Rx	originated in thymus, stomach, retroperitoneum or prostate gland	50%
III	61%		mediastinal	42%

Cancer Clinics are having ongoing trials to attempt to improve the survival of these patients. However, considering how things used to be only a few decades ago, we have come a long way already. The biggest breakthrough has been the use of chemotherapy for the later stages and the orchestration following the initial orchiectomy with postsurgical radiotherapy of the paraaortic lymph glands for the earlier stages.

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References:

1. Cancer: Principles &Practice of Oncology.4th edition. Edited by Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. et al. Lippincott, Philadelphia,PA, 1993. Chapter on Cancer of the Testis.

2. Cancer: Principles&Practice of Oncology. 5th edition, volume 1. Edited by Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. et al. Lippincott-Raven Publ., Philadelphia,PA, 1997. Chapter on Cancer of the Testis.

3. Votrin II et al. Drugs Exp Clin Res 2000;26(5-6):267-273.

4. B Aschhoff Drugs Exp Clin Res 2000;26(5-6):249-252.

5. Conn's Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier

6. Ferri: Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc