All types of cancer progress in different stages. These stages possess there own significance and have to be treated differently. Usually after diagnosis, doctors will try to find out the stage of testicular cancer to check whether it has spread to other parts of body.
Different stages of testicular cancer are
- Stage 0
- Stage I
- Stage II
- Stage III
Cancer in Stage 0
This stage is characterized by abnormal cells in the tubules where sperms start maturing. These abnormal cells are not capable of invasion. So this stage is also known as precancerous condition or carcinoma insitu. In this stage, the disease cannot be identified by the help of tumour markers.
Cancer in Stage I
This can be divided into IA, IB and IS. Stage IA is characterized by the presence of cancer cells in epididymis and testicles. They will start spreading into the inner membrane that surrounds testicles. In this stage also, the level of tumour markers will be normal. It is in the stage IB, the disease start expressing cancerous growth and characteristics. The cells will start spreading to lymph nodes and blood vessels. It will also migrate to outer membrane of testicle and to spermatic cord. In this stage also the level of tumour markers will be normal. In stage IS, the level of some tumour markers will be slightly high. Most other markers will remain normal. In this stage the cells can be found in all parts of testicles like scrotum, spermatic cord or both.
Stage II Cancer
The stage is divided into IIA, IIB and IIC. Stage IIA is characterized by presence of cells in all parts of testicles. It will spread to five lymph nodes present in abdomen. None of such growths will be larger than 2 cm. during stage II B, the cancer will spread to all other parts of testicles. One lymph node will be slightly larger than others with 2 cm. In the stage II C, cancerous cells can be found anywhere in testicles. Lymph nodes may grow more than 5 cm and the tumour markers will be slightly above normal.
Stage III Cancer
This stage is also divided into III A, III B, III C. Stage III A is characterized by migration of cancerous cells to distant lymph nodes and lungs. Stage III B is also marked by lymph node growth near to lungs. Level of marker will be high compared to others. By stage III C, the level of more than one tumour marker will be high than others. The chance for presence of cancer cells on lymph nodes and other parts of body will be high. |