Close ties: an exploratory Colored Eco-Genetic Relationship Map (CEGRM) study of social connections of men in Familial Testicular Cancer (FTC) families

This is a cross-sectional examination via the Colored Eco-Genetic Relationship Map (CEGRM) of social connections reported by 49 men in FTC families participating in NCI research study 02-C-178.The CEGRM was acceptable and feasible for use with men in FTC families, and valuable in understanding their social connections. These men have largely adjusted to the TC history in themselves and/or their relatives. They have considerable social and emotional support from family and friends, although there is wide variability in sources and types.The CEGRM focuses on men's social connections and close emotional bonds in FTC families. This action-oriented process of placing colored symbols on significant relationships uncovered previously under-appreciated emotions accompanying men's social exchanges. Most men in FTC families succeed in re-establishing a sense of normalcy in their lives and social connections, in the aftermath of a testicular cancer diagnosis.Testicular Cancer (TC) is rare, with about 8,500 new US cases per year in 2010 according to the American Cancer Society website (accessed 11/28/2011) (http:/ / www.cancer.org/ acs/ groups/ content/ @epidemiologysurveilance/ documents/ document/ acspc-026238.pdf webcite). Worldwide, 2008 GloboCan statistics estimated 52,322 TC cases worldwide http://globocan.iarc.fr/factsheets/populations/factsheet.asp?uno=900#MEN webcite (accessed 11-21-11), which is far less than incidence of common cancers such as lung, which is projected to develop more than one million new cases among men, worldwide.Unlike the common cancers of aging, testicular cancer is most common in young men (typically, aged 15-35 years) in northern and western Europe and North America. Of concern, TC incidence has been increasing since World War II [1]. Testicular cancer is highly treatable, but chemotherapy treatment may leave long-lasting adverse effects. Known TC risk factors include white race, prior contralateral testicular cancer, cryptorchidism and other g