Testicular Cancer Treatment & Survival Rate
November 22, 2024
This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Alexander Chehrazi-Raffle, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte
Many testicular cancers contain tumors that are a mix of different cell types. For this reason, it's imperative that the care team provides the most accurate diagnosis before recommending testicular cancer treatment, which may include surgery, drug therapy, chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation.
Fertility Preservation
Testicular cancer can often impact men at an age when they might be trying to start a family. Sperm banking is the easiest way to preserve fertility. Before treatment, sperm cells can be frozen and stored for future use. The care team may also offer minimally invasive, nerve-sparing surgical options, depending on the patient’s overall health and goals.
Treatment for Testicular Cancer
Following a testicular cancer diagnosis, the care team will create a personalized treatment plan based on the patient’s cancer type and stage, overall health, personal goals and other factors.
Testicular Cancer Surgery
Surgery is the first treatment for nearly all testicular cancer stages. The two main surgical options for treating testicular cancer are listed below.
Radical Inguinal Orchiectomy: During a radical inguinal orchiectomy, the care team removes the affected testicle and the spermatic cord, which connects the testicle to the scrotum. This surgery is typically the first line of treatment for testicular cancers at all stages.
Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection: During a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, the care team removes the lymph nodes in the patient’s abdomen to prevent the cancer from spreading. This surgery may be performed at all stages of testicular cancer.
Chemotherapy for Testicular Cancer
Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to kill all rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells. Not every testicular cancer patient requires chemotherapy, but in many cases it can be an important part of an effective treatment regime.
The care team will recommend which chemotherapy drugs are best suited for a particular patient’s cancer, sometimes combining these drugs to target cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used at all stages of testicular cancer.
Chemotherapy drugs for testicular cancer may include those listed below.
- Bleomycin: The care team typically combines this drug with etoposide and cisplatin in a regimen known as BEP or PEB, given over three or four cycles.
- Cisplatin: The care team may recommend three or four cycles of cisplatin and may combine it with other medications.
- Etoposide (also called VP-16): The care team may combine this medication with bleomycin and cisplatin (BEP), or alternatively. may combine it with only cisplatin (EP) for three or four cycles.
- Ifosfamide: The care team may combine this medication with etoposide and cisplatin in a combination referred to as VIP for three or four cycles.
- Paclitaxel: The care team may recommend paclitaxel for recurrent testicular cancer, and it may be combined with ifosfamide and cisplatin in a combination called TIP.
- Vinblastine: The care team may recommend paclitaxel for recurrent testicular cancer, which may be administered over three or four cycles.
Stem Cell Transplant for Testicular Cancer Patients
Higher doses of chemotherapy are not always administered because they may damage the bone marrow, where new blood cells form. As an alternative, the care team may recommend a stem cell transplant so they can administer higher doses of chemotherapy without this risk.
Prior to the stem cell transplant procedure, a special machine collects blood-forming stem cells from the patient's bloodstream. The stem cells are then frozen and stored. The patient later receives a stem cell transplant that contains high doses of chemotherapy. Afterward, the stem cells are infused into the patient's veins so that they can start making new blood cells.
Radiation Therapy for Testicular Cancer
The care team may recommend radiation therapy as part of the treatment plan. Radiation therapy may also be used instead of or following surgery to destroy cancer cells that can’t be seen on imaging.
During radiation therapy, the care team uses a machine to direct doses of radiation (similar to X-rays) at the part of the patient’s body where cancer cells are located.
What Doctors Treat Testicular Cancer?
The patient’s testicular cancer care team works together to find the most targeted, least invasive treatment for each patient, with the goal of preserving sexual health and fertility. Every patient’s care is coordinated by a multidisciplinary team, which may include several types of cancer specialists like:
- Urologists
- Medical oncologists
- Stem cell transplant care team
Testicular Cancer Survival Rate
One way to estimate a testicular cancer prognosis is to review the five-year relative survival rate of that cancer type. This indicates how likely a person with that cancer type is to survive for five years after diagnosis when compared to individuals without that type of cancer.
The overall five-year relative survival rate for testicular cancer is 95%. The National Cancer Institute’s SEER Program also delineates the five-year relative survival rate based on where the cancer is located:
- Localized — 99.2%
- Regional — 96.1%
- Distant — 73.2%
Each patient’s situation is unique, and survival rates vary based on numerous factors. It’s important to talk to the care team to get a personalized prognosis.
The City of Hope Difference
Every patient is different, with different needs. At City of Hope, we design a testicular cancer treatment plan personalized to each patient. Our multidisciplinary team works together to bring patients precise, state-of-the-art surgery, drug and chemotherapy, and stem cell transplantation options that will deliver the best outcome possible. We support patients every step of the way, both during treatment and long after, helping patients and their loved ones manage recovery, including sexual health and fertility preservation.
American Cancer Society (2019, September 4). Treatment Options for Testicular Cancer, by Type and Stage.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/testicular-cancer/treating/by-stage.htmlAmerican Cancer Society (2018, May 17). Surgery for Testicular Cancer.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/testicular-cancer/treating/surgery.htmlAmerican Cancer Society (2018, May 17). Chemotherapy for Testicular Cancer.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/testicular-cancer/treating/chemotherapy.htmlAmerican Cancer Society (2018). Explore Cancer Statistics.
https://cancerstatisticscenter.cancer.org/?_ga=2.85783897.117207437.1710714554-153759340.1710714554&_gl=1*183tldh*_ga*MTUzNzU5MzQwLjE3MTA3MTQ1NTQ.*_ga_12CJLLFFQT*MTcxMDcxNDU1NC4xLjEuMTcxMDcxNDYyMi41NC4wLjA.#!%2FNational Cancer Institute (2024). Testis SEER 5-Year Conditional Relative Survival Rates, 2000-2019.
https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/application.html?site=67&data_type=4&graph_type=13&compareBy=stage&chk_stage_104=104&chk_stage_105=105&chk_stage_106=106&chk_stage_107=107&chk_years_since_dx_0=0&chk_years_since_dx_1=1&chk_years_since_dx_3=3&chk_years_since_dx_5=5&hdn_sex=2&race=1&age_range=1&advopt_precision=1&advopt_show_ci=on&hdn_view=1&advopt_show_apc=on&advopt_display=2#resultsRegion1