The most common solid tumor in males ages 20-39 is testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is highly curable with 5-year survival rates above 96%. Long-term effects of both the testicular cancer and its treatment are important in understanding survivorship in this population. Chemotherapy poses its own specific risks such as vascular toxicity, lung disease and renal dysfunction. Also important is the understanding of fertility after testicular cancer and even prior to a cancer diagnosis patients may face issues with sperm count and testosterone level abnormalities. It is also critical to be aware of the possibility of developing a second malignancy after testicular cancer with the contralateral testis being a high-risk occurrence.

Source: Hayes-Lattin B, Nichols C. Testicular Cancer: A Prototypic Tumor of Young Adults. Semin Oncol. 2009; 36:432-438.