What is embryonal carcinoma? Superman actor Christopher Reeve’s son Will revealed that he was diagnosed with the rare testicular cancer a few months after his wedding

Superman actor Christopher Reeve’s son, Will Reeve, recently shared a personal story regarding a medical condition. The ABC journalist, in Tuesday’s, September 29 episode of Good Morning America, revealed that he was diagnosed with ‘testicular cancer’ earlier this year, but now "OK."

The cancer diagnosis was a shock for him, and the “treatments were a slog,” he said. However, to everyone’s relief, he announced that the cancer is “in the rearview mirror.”

Reeve revealed that he found a “hard, tender lump in left testicle” just a few months after his wedding to Amanda Dubin, a luxury event planner based out of New York.


An ultrasound later revealed that he had “a mass that had to come out.” After undergoing orchiectomy (the surgery to remove the testicle), Reeve discovered the mass was “embryonal carcinoma.”

This is an aggressive subtype of testicular cancer that can spread more quickly, according to the American Cancer Society. Then the 34-year-old underwent another surgery to remove lymph nodes from his abdomen after some cancerous cells had spread there, known as retroperitoneum.

Reeve also revealed that he was put through two sessions of chemotherapy in order to prevent the recurrence of the disease. He said that he suffered from various side effects from taking the drugs such as hearing loss, bone pain, night sweats, blood clots, and headaches.

On September 8, Reeve was told that he got “clean scans” after completing his second session of chemotherapy on July 31."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Good Morning America (@goodmorningamerica)

Here is everything you need to know about the Embryonal Carcinoma,

What is Embryonal Carcinoma?

Embryonal carcinoma is a rare and aggressive form of testicular cancer. It’s a type of tumor that consists of abnormal germ cells, which eventually become sperm. As per the Cleaveland Clinic, its treatment includes “surgery to remove the tumor and chemotherapy.”

How rare is Embryonal Carcinoma?

Testicular cancers, which include germ cell tumors such as embryonal carcinoma, are rare. However, of all testicular cancer cases, only 2% of germ cell tumors are pure embryonal carcinomas, the clinic notes. Men diagnosed with it are generally between the ages of 25 and 35.

In contrast, 85% of all testicular germ cell mixed tumors include embryonal carcinoma components. Mixed germ cell tumors have a combination of non-seminomatous tumor components.

Symptoms and causes of Embryonal Carcinoma

According to Cleveland Clinic, embryonal carcinoma can be a reason for a swollen testicle, a painful or even a painless testicular lump, or heaviness and discomfort in the scrotum. Symptoms may include low back or flank pain, shortness of breath, cough or coughing up blood, if the cancer has spread.

The cancer develops when germ cells grow uncontrollably and form a tumor, although the exact reason these cells become abnormal is unknown. Researchers believe the abnormal cells may develop during embryonic development.