A pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates is being treated for suspected testicular cancer. The team announced that Jameson Taillon, who also did a stint with the Altoona Curve, was treated Monday at Allegheny General Hospital and that further treatment depends on test results.
Doctors say Taillone ‘s first course of therapy for testicular cancer would be surgery to remove the affected testicle. That could be it, if the malignancy hasn’t spread.
“Testicular cancer, if you catch it before it spreads, has a 99 percent cure rate, so it is the most curable solid malignancy that we deal with in medicine,” says Dr. Steven Bossinger, a urologist in Altoona.
He adds that even patients whose disease has spread, have a very high cure rate.
“The face of that, obviously, is Lance Armstrong, who had metastatic testicular cancer to the lungs and brain and essentially he’s cured,” he explains.
According to the American Cancer Society, testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in males 15 to 35, but it’s not common, affecting about one in 263 men during their lifetime. This year, it’s estimated that 8,850 new cases will be diagnosed, and about 400 men will die.
Still, more men need to be made aware of testicular cancer, according to doctors who treat it and men who’ve had it.
Jason Greenspan had never heard of the disease, but went to the doctor after finding a hard lump. He says, “I had surgery right after my prom and graduation and to remove my left testicle, and then a couple month later or so, had 9 weeks of chemotherapy.”
Jason launched a Stamp Out Cancer Now campaign with blue wristbands and switch pennies to raise awareness at his college, Shippensburg University,
“It definitely changed my outlook on life,” he says. “Ever since, I’ve been trying to spread awareness about it and making sure everybody knows about testicular cancer, about testicular self-exams.”
Dr Bossinger says those exams should start at puberty and continue at least until men are in their mid 30’s.”It’s the only way because otherwise, it would tend to present when it’s already advanced,” Bossinger says.
Jason’s glad he didn’t wait to get a diagnosis and he’s looking forward to this November when he’ll be cancer -free for 5 years.