I am an urologist at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland and a passionate advocate for our testicular cancer patients. I am a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines Committee for Testicular Cancer and considered among the experts in robotic and open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. There is no cancer like testicular cancer, it affects young men and because of the high cure rate, can have lasting effects for decades after successful treatment. For those reasons and more, there is no patient population like testicular cancer survivors – and there is no more rewarding group for whom to care.
Thanks to giants in the field, like Dr. Einhorn, the overall cure rate for testicular cancer is 95%. However we still subject many men to side effects from chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery without completely understanding or imparting the long-term “toxicities” of these treatments. I, and others, think it’s time to stop patting ourselves on the back for curing 95% of men and start moving the bar higher to minimize the side effects of our treatments. While we are not willing to budge on the excellent cure rate, the newest generation of testicular cancer providers is keenly focused on improving the lives of our testicular cancer patients. I look forward to giving the medical perspective of Testicular Cancer Survivorship at the TC Summit and interacting with like-minded TC advocates from around the world!
Dr Phillip M. Pierorazio, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Urology and Oncology
Director, Division of Testis Cancer
Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins University
