The great majority of these cancers, however, occur in males between the ages of 20 and 44, precisely the time when a man may be most concerned about sexual fertility and planning for a family.
Most patients treated for early stage disease can retain sexual function and fertility.
An estimated 5,500 cases of testicular cancer and 400 deaths from this disease now occur each year. During the past 40 years, the rates among white men have nearly doubled and are now more than four times greater than among black men. The rates for Hispanics, American Indians, and Asians are higher than those for blacks, but still less than those for whites. If detected early, before the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, testicular cancer can be completely cured nearly 100 percent of the time. Recent advances in managing the disease, particularly with the use of powerful anticancer drugs, have resulted in cure rates approaching 80 percent for even some advanced types of testicular cancer.