Advances in the management of testicular cancer

Dramatic advances have been made over the last decade in the management of testicular cancer. There are three identifiable reasons for this. The first is the widespread availability of tumour markers to assess the state of disease and its response to therapy. The second is CT scanning, which has revolutionized our ability to locate with fine anatomical detail the location of metastases. The third is the development of effective, intensive chemotherapy together with the understanding of its side-effects and optimum usage. Problems still remain in patients who fail to respond completely to existing therapy. In addition, the profound side-effects of chemotherapy mean that much effort is being invested in the development of less toxic but equally effective forms of treatment.