Testicular Cancer News

Eating Tomatoes is healthy

2006-06-08T04:19:00.000-07:00

Lycopene which gives tomatoes their distinctive red colour, can protect against prostate cancer when eaten as part of a healthy diet. When the lycopene was combined with vitamin E, it reduced the growth of tumours by up to 73%.

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Heart Attack Risks of Testicular Cancer Survivors

2006-05-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

This article states that TC survivors who have undergone Radiation therapy or Chemotherapy have an increased risk of getting a Heart attack.

The stats are as follows:
- 2512 testicular cancer survivors who were treated between 1965 and 1995.
- During about 18 years of follow-up, 141 heart attacks occurred in the study group.

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Risk of Radiation Therapy

2006-05-19T03:51:00.000-07:00

One CT Scan of the abdomen is the equivalent in radiation exposure of 500 Chest X Rays.

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Lance Armstrong at Tufts 150th Commencement.

2006-05-19T02:39:00.000-07:00

Lance Armstrong will be speaking at Tufts' 150th Commencement ceremony.

Date of the event: May 21, 2006

“Lance Armstrong brings a powerful message to our graduates and commencement guests: Never give up,” said Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow. “His perseverance on the bike and in life sets an extraordinary example for all who seek to overcome obstacles and achieve their highest goals. We are honored to host him at Tufts.”

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Inspiring article with Lance Armstrong

2006-05-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

The Next Step -

There's a new mountain for Lance Armstrong to climb. He wants a billion dollars for the fight against cancer, and he won't stop until he gets it

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Fertility and cancer new guidelines

2006-05-08T02:32:00.000-07:00

[...]According to the experts, the two methods of fertility preservation with the highest likelihood of success in cancer patients are embryo cryopreservation for women and sperm cryopreservation for men. However, these procedures take time, and cancer patients considering these options need to do so as soon as possible after the cancer diagnosis.

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Google Video talking about Chemotherapy as alternative for Testicular Cancer Seminoma Stage I

2006-05-08T02:26:00.000-07:00

Empowered Medical Media - 2min 24sec

[...] Latest research shows an early stage of one type of the cancer—seminoma--can respond just as well to a single dose of chemotherapy after surgery, rather than needing a three-week course of radiation therapy. 77% of patients who underwent treatment fathered a child naturally, and another 10% became fathers after fertility treatment. The study also found that 83% of men said they had a satisfying sexual relationship with their partner. While patients treated with chemotherapy after surgery had an increased risk of infertility compared to those who had no follow-up treatment or had radiotherapy only, the risk was less than had been expected.[...]

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Single-dose Carboplatin comparable to prophylactic radiotherapy for stage I seminoma

2006-05-08T02:16:00.000-07:00

The risk of relapse for patients with stage I seminoma has traditionally ranged between 10 and 15%, depending on the local pathological characteristics of the tumor.

In the past, prophylactic retroperitoneal radiotherapy was recommended for the majority of these patients to decrease the risk of recurrence. However, as the potential risk of long-term gastrointestinal complications and secondary malignancies has been recognized, many patients with low-risk tumors are managed with watchful surveillance. Some have suggested single dose chemotherapy as an alternative to radiotherapy in select patients.

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Survivors of Testicular Cancer May Have Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

2006-05-07T17:11:00.000-07:00

According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, men who have survived testicular cancer may be at an increased risk of developing subsequent cardiovascular (heart) disease. These individuals should undergo cardiac monitoring as part of their follow-up medical care.

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Risk Of Secondary Malignancies In Testicular Cancer

2006-05-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

Among those patients surviving more than 10 years, the relative risk of a secondary malignancy was 1.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.8 to 2.1). This increased risk remained elevated for 35 years. The risk of a secondary tumor decreased with increasing age at diagnosis.

While selective use of chemotherapy or radiotherapy is very effective in the treatment of germ cell tumors, these data from large cohort of patients confirms real and significant risk of secondary tumors. While often as clinicians we focus on primary tumor surveillance, these sobering facts underscore the need for heightened awareness in detecting potential secondary malignancies even decades after the patient is declared “disease-free”.

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AP-2gamma in Semen sample serves as tumor marker in early stage

2006-05-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

Researchers found the TFAP2C gene, which produces a protein called AP-2gamma, was expressed in CIS and therefore provided a marker for detecting cancer.

The team analysed semen samples from a group of patients with testicular cancer, men with other types of cancer and infertility problems and a group of apparently healthy young men.

Dr Hoei-Hansen said: "When we were evaluating the first series of semen samples we detected AP-2gamma positive cells in a sample from one of the healthy controls.

"He was a 23-year-old man who was having a routine semen analysis because he and his partner had been trying for 18 months to have a baby. Further clinical evaluation revealed CIS in his left testicle."

The man had the testicle removed in surgery but did not need chemotherapy or radiotherapy. He and his partner went on to conceive naturally and are awaiting their first child, the researchers said.

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