The value of early diagnosis in the treatment of patients with testicular cancer.

A study of 79 patients treated at Wellington Hospital for testicular cancer showed that those presenting with a short history (time from tumour recognition to surgery) had no better prognosis than those with a longer history (chi 2 = 1.857, p = 0.173). Tumour size was significantly related to this time interval such that those patients with a short history were more likely to have smaller tumours (rp = 0.651, p = 0.001). The data suggests that testicular tumours are currently being recognised too late in their development to allow any improvement in survival to be gained from reducing the interval from recognition to treatment. However, earlier recognition of the tumour by the patient may allow diagnosis and treatment in an earlier stage. The advantages of diagnosis in early stage disease are substantial and the need for a public education programme involving testicular self examination to allow early diagnosis is discussed.