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Prognosis Of Testicular Cancer

Although testicular cancer is the leading cause of death in young men between 15 and 50 from disease it also has a very high survival rate. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008 there will be over 8000 new cases of testicular cancer in the United States alone and over 300 will die from the disease. This is actually a higher death rate than women with breast cancer.

The number of men diagnosed with testicular cancer is rising each year. The numbers have doubled since the 1930ís and appear to higher in Scandinavia and Germany and lowest in Asian and African countries.

The prognosis of testicular cancer is an estimation or percentage given to patients to help them understand the gravity of their particular situation. A prognosis is usually expressed in one of two ways. The physician will give a prognosis in a range of poor to excellent which doesnít require any statistical analysis of survival rates. It is a general statement based on the doctors knowledge of the current survival rates, the cell type of your cancer and your overall general health.

The second way that prognosis is expressed is through five-year survival rates. This term doesnít mean that patients only live 5 years but rather it expresses a number that reflects the number of people who survive the diagnosis for at least five years. Doctors use this benchmark in any research study when they are initiating new treatment protocols.

The reason that doctors use the five year mark is because the chances of the cancers returning after five years decreases significantly. Although it doesnít mean the patient is cured from the cancer because it can return. So the term 5-year survival is used instead.

The figures for testicular cancer are very promising. When a medical professional quotes the numbers they will say that X out of 100 people will survive for 5 years. This translates to X percent. In other words 95 out of 100 is actually 95%. In the case of testicular cancer these numbers range in the high 90ís.

This is vastly different from the 5-year survival rates in 1963 which was 63%! Today, because of improved diagnosis, early treatment and improved protocols the survival rates for those cancers that havenít moved beyond the testicle are 99%. That means that 99 out of 100 will survive 5 years after diagnosis.

These numbers are slightly different if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the abdomen which drain the testicles. If the doctor detects cancer cells in the lymph nodes the rate of survival drops slightly to 96%.

The five-year survival rate drops more significantly if the cancer spreads beyond the lymph nodes to the abdominal cavity. At this time the survival rate is 70%. But even with a percentage of survival that drops that significantly the majority of men who are diagnosed with testicular cancer which has spread beyond the lymph nodes are still considered cured.

This is positive since in a recent survey researchers found that men delayed diagnosis from between 17 and 87 weeks once they discovered the abnormality in their scrotum. Because testicular cancer is practically symptomless, early diagnosis occurs with self-examination and annual evaluations by the physician.

In order for men to enjoy the benefits of an excellent prognosis of testicular cancer they must perform monthly self examinations and be diligent in their annual physicals.

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Help and support (Exeter News-Letter)

Alcoholics anonymous: holds meetings daily throughout the Seacoast. For meeting or general information on New Hampshire Alcoholics Anonymous, call (800) 593-3330 or visit www.nhaa.net.