Stages

It is important to know the stage of a cancer in order to plan treatment.

STAGES OF TESTICULAR CANCER

Stage 0

In stage 0, abnormal cells are found only in the tiny tubules where the sperm cells begin to develop. The cells do not invade normal tissues. This is sometimes called a "precancerous condition." Stage 0 cancer is also called carcinoma in situ. All tumor marker levels are normal.

Stage I

Stage I is divided into stage IA, stage IB, and stage IS and is determined after a radical inguinal orchiectomy is done.

• In stage IA, the 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, the cancer:
  • is in the testicle and the epididymis and has spread to the blood 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 or lymph vessels of the testicle.
  All tumor marker levels are normal.
• In stage IS,
  • the 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 a radical inguinal orchiectomy is done.

• In stage IIA, the 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, the 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 markers levels are normal or slightly above normal.
• In stage IIC, the 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 a radical inguinal orchiectomy is done.

• In stage IIIA, the 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.
  The level of one or more tumor markers may range from normal to slightly above normal.
• In stage IIIB, the cancer:
  • is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
  • may have spread to one or more nearby or distant lymph nodes or to the lungs.
  The level of one or more tumor markers may range from normal to high.
• In stage IIIC, the cancer:
  • is anywhere within the testicle, spermatic cord, or scrotum; and
  • may have spread to one or more nearby or distant lymph nodes or to the lungs or anywhere else in the body.
  The level of one or more tumor markers may range from normal to very high.

Reference:

National Cancer Institute, USA.