Read press release Further testicular cancer tests
This page is about the tests you might have if you are diagnosed with testicular cancer. There is information about
Further testicular cancer tests
If the tests show that you have testicular cancer, you will need to have other tests to see if it has spread to any other part of your body. Doctors call this staging.
Your doctor may ask you to have
- Blood tests
- A CT scan of your chest and abdomen
- An ultrasound scan of your abdomen
- An MRI scan
You may have other types of scan if you have symptoms that could be a sign of cancer cells in the brain or bone
After your tests
Once you have had the tests you need, your doctor can diagnose the type of cancer, and whether the cancer has spread to any other areas of the body.
It usually takes several days for the results of your tests to be ready. Waiting for your results can be an anxious time. You may find it helpful to talk things over with a close friend or relative. You may want to contact a cancer organisation that can tell you about counselling and help you to find sources of emotional support in your area. You can also find online support forums.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the Diagnosing testicular cancer section.
If tests show that you have testicular cancer, you will need to have more tests to see if it has spread to any other part of your body. Doctors call this staging. You will have some of the following tests.
You will probably have had blood tests for particular hormones called markers when you were first seen by your specialist, to help diagnose you. If you had higher than normal levels of one or more markers, your specialist will measure the levels again after your testicle has been removed. If there is no cancer anywhere else in your body, your marker levels should go back to normal after your surgery. If they don't, it means there are testicular cancer cells in other parts of your body and you will need further treatment.
Your doctor will ask you to have a CT scan to see whether the cancer has spread to any lymph nodes in the tummy (abdomen) or chest area. A CT scan takes a series of X-rays to create pictures of the inside of the body. We have information about CT scans in our cancer tests section.
Your doctor may ask you to have an ultrasound scan of your abdomen or more rarely an MRI scan. These are both ways of looking for signs of cancer spread. If there is any sign that the cancer may have spread to your brain you may have a brain CT scan. If there is any possibility that the cancer may have spread to your bone your doctor may ask you to have a bone scan.
There is information about having ultrasound scans, MRI scans, brain CT scans and bone scans in the cancer tests section.
Once you have had the tests you need, the doctor can diagnose
- The type of cancer
- Whether the cancer has spread
It usually takes several days for the results of your tests to be ready. Before you go home your nurse will give you a follow up appointment.
Waiting for your results can be an anxious time for you. You may find it helpful to talk things over with a close friend or relative.
Look on the testicular cancer organisations page for organisations that can help put you in touch with a support group. The coping with cancer section has information about talking about your cancer, including information about counselling and who can help you to find emotional support in your area.
If you want to find people to share experiences with online, you could use CancerChat, our online forum. Or you can go through My Wavelength. This is a free service that aims to put people with similar medical conditions in touch with each other.
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