Definition of testicular cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of one or both testicles. Testicular cancer is most common in young or middle-aged men. Most testicular cancers begin in germ cells (cells that make sperm) and are called testicular germ cell tumors.
Estimated new cases of testicular cancer in the United States in 2016: 8,720
The following stages are used for testicular cancer:
Stage 0 (Carcinoma In Situ)
In stage 0, abnormal cells are found in the tiny tubules where the sperm cells begin to develop. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. All tumor marker levels are normal.
Stage I
In stage I, cancer has formed. Stage I is divided into stage IA, stage IB, and stage IS and is determined after an inguinal orchiectomy is done.
- In stage IA, cancer is in the testicle and epididymis and may have spread to the inner layer of the membrane surrounding the testicle. All tumor marker levels are normal.
- In stage IB, cancer:
- is in the testicle and the epididymis and has spread to the blood vessels or lymph vessels in the testicle; or
- has spread to the outer layer of the membrane surrounding the testicle; or
- is in the spermatic cord or the scrotum and may be in the blood vessels or lymph vessels of the testicle.
All tumor marker levels are normal.
- In stage IS, cancer is found anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or the scrotum and either:
- all tumor marker levels are slightly above normal; or
- one or more tumor marker levels are moderately above normal or high.
Stage II
Stage II is divided into stage IIA, stage IIB, and stage IIC and is determined after an inguinal orchiectomy is done.
- In stage IIA, cancer:
- is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
- has spread to up to 5 lymph nodes in the abdomen, none larger than 2 centimeters.
All tumor marker levels are normal or slightly above normal.
- In stage IIB, cancer is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and either:
- has spread to up to 5 lymph nodes in the abdomen; at least one of the lymph nodes is larger than 2 centimeters, but none are larger than 5 centimeters; or
- has spread to more than 5 lymph nodes; the lymph nodes are not larger than 5 centimeters.
All tumor marker levels are normal or slightly above normal.
- In stage IIC, cancer:
- is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
- has spread to a lymph node in the abdomen that is larger than 5 centimeters.
All tumor marker levels are normal or slightly above normal.
Stage III
Stage III is divided into stage IIIA, stage IIIB, and stage IIIC and is determined after an inguinal orchiectomy is done.
- In stage IIIA, cancer:
- is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
- may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen; and
- has spread to distant lymph nodes or to the lungs.
Tumor marker levels may range from normal to slightly above normal.
- In stage IIIB, cancer:
- is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
- may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen, to distant lymph nodes, or to the lungs.
The level of one or more tumor markers is moderately above normal.
- In stage IIIC, cancer:
- is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
- may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen, to distant lymph nodes, or to the lungs.
The level of one or more tumor markers is high.
or
Cancer:
-
- is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
- may have spread to one or more lymph nodes in the abdomen; and
- has not spread to distant lymph nodes or the lung but has spread to other parts of the body.
Tumor marker levels may range from normal to high.
All information was taken from the NCI (National Cancer Institute)
