This high cure rate is partly due to improvements in treatment. But it is also due to the creation of teams of doctors and nurses with specialist knowledge in dealing with teratomas. These medical teams have experience in all aspects of the care of men with teratomas . There is now clear evidence that men who have their treatment with one of these specialist teams have a better chance of cure than those who do not.

As teratomas are uncommon, it is not possible to have one of these specialist teams in every hospital. So in each region of the UK there will only be a few hospitals where there are a group of experts who can deal with these cancers. This means that many men who have testicular teratomas do have to travel to get their treatment.

Although your surgeon's suggestion of referral to a specialist centre may be inconvenient it does mean that you will be seeing people who really know and understand your condition. They will be able to give you the best possible care and the best possible chance of a cure.