© 2005-2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). All rights reserved worldwide.
To learn more about serum tumor marker testing for a germ cell tumor such as testicular cancer, consider asking your doctor the following questions:
- What type of germ cell tumor do I have? Is it testicular cancer, or another type? Is it seminoma, non-seminoma, or a mixed germ cell tumor?
- Can I obtain a copy of my pathology report (laboratory test results and tissue diagnosis)?
- What blood tests will I need to have to look at serum tumor marker levels? When should these tests be done?
- Based on these test results, what treatments do you recommend and why?
- What are the possible side effects of these treatments?
- After treatment ends, what is my schedule for serum tumor marker measurements and other evaluations during follow-up care?
- Who will be monitoring my follow-up care; my oncologist or primary care doctor?
- Who should I talk with if I have questions about health insurance and the cost of follow-up care?