Testicular cancer survival statistics

The latest age-standardised relative survival rates for testicular cancer in England during 2005-2009 show that 98% of men are expected to survive their disease for at least one year, falling only slightly to 97.2% (not age-standardised) surviving five years or more (Table 3.1).1,2 Broadly similar rates have been reported for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.3-5

Table 3.1: Testicular cancer (C62), Age-Standardised One-, Five- and Ten-Year Relative Survival Rates, Males (Aged 15-99), England 2005-2009 and England and Wales 2007

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*Five-year survival rate is not age-standardised
**Ten-year survival rate has been predicted for patients diagnosed in 2007 (using the hybrid approach)

For testicular cancer, survival does not fall much beyond five years after diagnosis, so for testicular cancer the five-year survival rate effectively represents a ‘cure’ rate. (Table 3.1).1,2

The five-year relative survival rates for testicular cancer are the highest of the 21 most common cancers in England.1 Like most cancers, when caught at an early stage treatment is much more effective. However, testicular cancer survival rates are extremely high for all stages of the disease. In fact, testicular cancer has become a model for a curable neoplasm.6

section reviewed 09/08/12
section updated 09/08/12

As with nearly all cancers, relative survival for testicular cancer is higher in younger men, even after taking account of the higher background mortality in older people. The reasons for this are likely to include a combination of better general health, more effective response to treatment and earlier diagnosis in younger people overall. Differences in underlying tumour biology may also play a part for some cancer sites.

The five-year relative survival rates for testicular cancer in men in England during 2005-2009 ranged from 98% in 15-39 year olds to 59% in 80-99 year olds (Figure 3.1).1

Figure 3.1: Testicular cancer (C62), Five-Year Relative Survival Rates by Age, England 2005-2009

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section reviewed 09/08/12
section updated 09/08/12

As with the majority of cancers, relative survival for testicular cancer is improving. This can be attributed improvements in treatment.

In men, one-year relative survival rates for testicular cancer increased from 82% in England and Wales during 1971-1975 to 98% in England during 2005-2009 (Figure 3.2).1,7-9

Figure 3.2: Testicular Cancer (C62), Age-Standardised One-Year Relative Survival Rates, England and Wales 1971-1995, England 1996-2009

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*Survival rates are for England only from 1996 onwards

In men, five-year relative survival rates for testicular cancer increased from 69% in England and Wales during 1971-1975 to 97.2% (not age-standardised) in England during 2005-2009 (Figure 3.3).1,7-9

Figure 3.3: Testicular Cancer (C62), Age-Standardised Five-Year Relative Survival Rates, England and Wales 1971-1995, England 1996-2009

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*Survival rates are for England only from 1996 onwards
**Survival rates for 2005-2009 are not age-standardised

Ten-year relative survival rates for men diagnosed with testicular cancer increased from 67% in England and Wales during 1971-1975 to a predicted 96.5% in England in 2007 (Figure 3.4).2

Figure 3.4: Testicular Cancer (C62), Age-Standardised Ten-Year Relative Survival Rates, England and Wales 1971-1995 and Predicted 2007, England 1996-2000

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*Survival rates are not age-standardised from 1971-1985
**Ten-year survival rates have been predicted for patients diagnosed in 2007 (using the hybrid approach)

section reviewed 09/08/12
section updated 09/08/12

International comparisons of one and five-year survival rates for men in England and Wales diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1995-99 show testicular cancer is one of the few cancers for which survival rates in the UK equal or even exceed those recorded in the rest of Europe.10

section reviewed 25/06/12
section updated 25/06/12

Much of the increase in survival rates for testicular cancer has been due to improvements in the treatment of metastatic testicular cancer. Before 1970, only around 5% of patients with metastatic testicular cancer survived, but around 80% survive today - a highly unusual result for a metastatic solid tumour.11,12

section reviewed 25/06/12
section updated 25/06/12