Follow-up Care and Living with Testicular Cancer

Regular follow-up exams are very important for anyone treated for testicular cancer. The doctor will continue to watch the patient closely for several years to be sure the cancer is completely gone. If the cancer does recur, it is very important for the doctor to detect it right away and start additional treatment.

Follow-up care may vary for different types and stages of testicular cancer. Generally, patients are checked and have blood tests to measure tumor marker levels every month for the first 2 years after treatment. They also have regular x-rays and scans. After that, checkups may be needed just once or twice a year. Testicular cancer seldom recurs after a patient has been free of the disease for 3 years.

Patients who have been treated for cancer in one testicle have about a 1 percent chance of developing cancer in the remaining one. If cancer does arise in the second testicle, it is nearly always a new disease rather than a metastasis from the first tumor. Patients should be checked regularly by their doctor and should continue to do testicular self-examination every month. Any unusual symptoms should be reported to the doctor without delay. As with the patient's first cancer, the earlier a new tumor is detected and treated, the greater the chance of cure.

Adjusting to the Disease

When people have cancer, life can change -- for them and for the people who care about them. These changes in daily life can be difficult to handle. When a man learns that he has testicular cancer, it's natural to have many different and sometimes confusing emotions.

At times, patients and family members may be frightened, angry, or depressed. Their feelings may vary from hope to despair or from courage to fear. Patients are usually better able to handle these feelings if they talk about their illness and share their feelings with family members and friends.

Concerns about the future -- as well as about medical tests and treatments, hospital stays, medical bills, and sexuality -- may help ease fear and confusion. Patients should ask questions about their disease and its treatment and take an active part in decisions about their medical care. Patients and family members often find it helpful to write down questions as they think of them to prepare for the next visit to the doctor. Taking notes during talks with the doctor can be a useful aid to memory. Patients should ask the doctor to repeat or explain anything that is not clear.

Most people want to know what kind of cancer they have, how it can be treated, and how successful the treatment is likely to be. The following are some other questions patients might want to ask the doctor:

• What are the expected benefits of treatment?
• What are the risks and side effects of treatment?
• Will my sex life change?
• Will I be able to father children?
• Is it possible to keep working during treatment?
• Will changes in my normal daily activities be required?
• How often are checkups needed?

The patient's doctor is the best person to answer questions and give advice about working or other activities. If it is hard to talk with the doctor about feelings and other very personal matters, patients may find it helpful to talk with others facing similar problems. This kind of help is available through support groups. If the patient or his family finds that emotional problems become too hard to handle, a mental health counselor may be able to help.

The public library is a good source of books and articles on living with cancer. Also, cancer patients and their families can find helpful suggestions in booklets from the National Cancer Institute.

Support for Cancer Patients

Adapting to the changes that are brought about by having cancer is easier for patients and those who care about them when they have helpful information and support services. Often, the social service office at the hospital or clinic can suggest local and national agencies that will help with emotional support, financial aid, transportation, home care, or rehabilitation.

The American Cancer Society (ACS), for example, is a nonprofit organization that offers a variety of services to patients and their families. Local ACS offices are listed in the telephone directory.

Information about other programs and services for cancer patients and their families is available through the Cancer Information Service (CIS), whose toll-free telephone number is 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).

What The Future Holds

More than 8 million Americans living today have had some type of cancer. The outlook for men with testicular cancer is excellent. Because researchers have found better ways to diagnose and treat this disease, the chance of recovering has improved dramatically. Today, a large majority of testicular cancer patients are cured by their initial treatment, and many of those who have a recurrence can be cured too.

The Promise Of Cancer Research

Scientists at hospitals and medical centers throughout the United States are studying testicular cancer. They are working toward a better understanding of its causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.