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When the tumour cells are located in the testicle, this refers to testicular cancer.
Testicular cancer is the most common neoplasm in young men, with an incidence of almost two new cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year.
It usually manifests as a painless mass that is dependent on the testicle and requires the removal of the testicle through a simple surgical procedure. This is usually sufficient as the only therapeutic act in some early stages.
Risk factors for developing testicular cancer include cryptorchidism (undescended testicle into the scrotum at birth) and some chromosomopathies (Klinefelter’s syndrome).
The average age of diagnosis is 33 years, although the disease can occur at any age
Approximately 6% of cases are diagnosed in children and teenagers.
It usually manifests as a painless mass that is dependent on the testicle and requires the removal of the testicle through a simple surgical procedure. This is usually sufficient as the only therapeutic act in some early stages.
Testicular cancer generally has an excellent prognosis, even in advanced stages. It often requires treatment with chemotherapy and, in exceptional cases, radiotherapy.
Sometimes it is necessary to remove the abdominal lymph nodes (retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy) either before or, more frequently, after chemotherapy treatment.
Surgery for a residual retroperitoneal mass is a complex surgery, and it is recommended to be carried out in specialised centres that are a reference in the field.
In this regard, the Urology Service of the IVO has extensive experience and has been a pioneer in our country in surgery with the preservation of the nerves responsible for ejaculation, as well as in the laparoscopic surgical approach, which can be performed in select cases.
Each case is assessed individually in the tumour committee, as there is a wide range of cell lines and stages of the disease that require an individualised therapeutic and follow-up approach.
There may also be aftereffects in the area of fertility, sexuality and hormonal deficits, which are treated in the specialised andrology clinic, as well.
Testicular cancer generally has an excellent prognosis, even in advanced stages. It often requires treatment with chemotherapy and sometimes with radiotherapy.
The Urological Tumour Committee is made up of a multidisciplinary team of expert professionals.
The Urology Service offers alternatives for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of urological tumours
The Service's team of professionals accompanies cancer patients throughout the whole disease process.
A clinical trial is a research study carried out on people with the aim of learning more about how the body reacts to certain treatments. These trials generally seek to find drugs that are more effective than the current best therapeutic option for patients, or that have similar efficacy but a better toxicity profile.
Bearing in mind that almost all currently available treatments are the result of clinical research, the importance of clinical trials is obvious.
The IVO has a clinical trials unit for all types of tumours and participates in phase 1-3 studies as well as other types of studies.
Whether you receive the news of an initial diagnosis of cancer or a relapse, coping with cancer can be emotionally overwhelming. Each person has their own way of coping with a testicular cancer diagnosis, but there are some recommendations that can help you through this process:
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