Stage 1 testicular cancer may or may not have spread beyond your testicle, and it hasn’t yet spread to your lymph nodes or distant body parts. With prompt treatment, your outlook could be excellent.
Doctors most commonly stage testicular cancer using the American Joint Committee on Cancer’s
- T: size of the tumor
- N: spread to nearby lymph nodes
- M: metastasis (spread) to distant areas
- S: serum levels of tumor markers in the blood
The American Cancer Society estimates that about
Doctors often successfully treat stage 1 testicular cancer with surgery alone. Sometimes, they may combine surgery with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Read on to learn more about stage 1 testicular cancer, including its symptoms, treatment options, and outlook.
The four stages of testicular cancer
Here’s a brief look at the four stages of testicular cancer:
- Stage 0: Stage 0 testicular cancer is contained to the small tubes inside your testicle.
- Stage 1: Stage 1 testicular cancer has grown outside these tubes and possibly outside the testicles, and you may have elevated tumor markers on a blood test.
- Stage 2: Stage 2 testicular cancer may have grown outside the testicle or into nearby lymph nodes, and it may cause elevated tumor markers on a blood test.
- Stage 3: Stage 3 testicular cancer may have spread to distant body parts, such as your lung.
Stage 1 is the earliest stage of testicular cancer. It hasn’t yet spread to lymph nodes or distant body parts. Stage 0 is considered precancerous.
Stage 1 testicular cancer has
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Your tumor has grown beyond your seminiferous tubules and may or may not have grown outside your testicle. |
| 1A | Your tumor has grown beyond your seminiferous tubules but not outside your testicle. |
| 1B | Your tumor has grown outside your testicle and into nearby structures. |
| 1S | Your tumor might have grown outside your testicle, or a doctor can’t assess its extent. At this stage, at least one tumor marker is higher than usual. |
Can you survive stage 1 testicular cancer?
Stage 1 testicular cancer often has an excellent outlook, and the vast majority of people survive their cancer. You’ll still need regular monitoring after treatment to make sure your cancer doesn’t return.
Early stage testicular cancer often doesn’t cause any symptoms. The
Other initial symptoms can include:
- swelling around your testicle
- increased firmness in your testicle
- a noticeable enlargement to one side of your scrotum
- pain or a dull ache in your testicle or scrotum
- a heavy feeling in your scrotum or abdomen
Learn more about the early symptoms of testicular cancer.
Does testicular cancer spread quickly?
Some types of testicular cancer grow quicker than others. The most common type of testicular cancer is germ cell cancer, which doctors divide into
Doctors often find stage 1 testicular cancer incidentally during imaging for an unrelated reason, like testicular trauma. They might also discover it following the removal of one of your testicles.
Tests for testicular cancer include:
- an ultrasound to see if the lump in your testicle is solid or filled with fluid
- blood tests to look for tumor markers that suggest testicular cancer, such as:
- alpha-fetoprotein
- human chorionic gonadotropin
- lactate dehydrogenase
- surgery to remove the entire testicle followed by testing of the cells in a laboratory
- a biopsy of your testicle, which is
less common than surgery to remove the testicle - imaging to see if the cancer has spread to other locations, such as:
Treatment for stage 1 testicular cancer depends on the type of cancer you have.
If you have a seminoma tumor, the
Treatment for nonseminoma tumors usually includes:
- surgery to remove your testicle, with long-term follow-ups
- surgery to remove your testicle and nearby lymph nodes, with long-term follow-ups
- surgery followed by chemotherapy, with long-term follow-ups for cancers with a high chance of returning
Some people may receive radiation therapy after surgery. These people usually have 10–15 treatments over
The outlook for people with stage 1 testicular cancer is generally excellent. In the United States in 2013–2019, the 5-year relative survival rate among people with diagnosed testicular cancer contained to a testicle was
The 5-year relative survival rate is a measure of how many people with the cancer live at least 5 years compared with people without the cancer.
Stage 1 testicular cancer is almost always curable. The most common treatment for stage 1 testicular cancer is surgery. A doctor may also suggest chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery.
The outlook for testicular cancer is generally best with early treatment. It’s important to contact your doctor if you notice any concerning changes to one of your testicles.