Can testicular cancer stage 1 relapse?

my brother last year had testicular cancer stage 1.everything work out well until now, his follow up tummor marker test afp the last few months it was eleveted 15.57 the most and the normal levels are 10.00 the most . what it can be?

Any cancer of any stage can recur, although adequately treated Stage I testicular cancer has a pretty low rate. Watching tumor markers is an excellent way to detect a recurrence, which really represents tumor cells that escaped being killed in the first wave of treatment. Using markers lets doctors use milder treatments on most patients with limited disease, and then using more aggressive treatment if markers rise.

One elevated marker alone is not enough to panic. The blood work will be repeated and compared and if the second set is normal, it will be repeated in a shorter interval, most likely. If it is still elevated or rises, more testing will be done to locate the residual tumor and treatment will be restarted. You didn't say what type of testicular tumor he had, so I can't say whether it will be chemo, radiation or a combination of the two.

Even if the cancer is showing up again, don't despair. Look at Lance Armstrong who had Stage IV testicular cancer involving his brain and is now doing just fine.

And use this opportunity to preach testicular self examination to everyone you know. Testicular cancer is the most common type for men between 15 and 35, and every man past puberty should learn to examine his testicles and do so every month for life. It saves lives.

Yes