Medication
Treatment for testicular cancer is based mainly on the type and stage of the cancer. Among the different stages of germ cell tumors, pure seminomas tend to be treated one way, and non-seminomas and mixed germ cell tumors are treated another way.
Procedures
Sometimes the skin in the treatment area gets red and sore – a bit like mild sunburn. This is not usually too bad with radiotherapy for testicular cancer, particularly if you only need radiotherapy for 2 weeks. You usually have radiotherapy to your tummy (abdomen) if you are having treatment for testicular cancer.
Therapy
If your doctor found that your cancerspread beyond the testicle, they may have taken out some of the lymph nodes in your abdomenas well. This procedure has a longer recovery and a higher chance of complications than removing a testicle.
Nutrition
Make an appointment with your family doctor or a general practitioner if you find a lump on a testicle.
What is the treatment for testicular cancer?
Why does radiotherapy for testicular cancer hurt?
What happens if cancer spreads beyond the testicle?
What should I do if I find a lump on my testicle?
Does chemo for testicular cancer make you sick?
Chemotherapy works very well for testicular cancer but can cause side effects and complications. Common side effects from chemotherapy include fatigue, nausea and vomiting, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, high-pitch hearing loss, and ringing in the ears.
What are the side effects of treatment for testicular cancer?
These side effects can include:Hair loss.Mouth sores.Loss of appetite.Nausea and vomiting.Diarrhea.Increased chance of infections (from having too few white blood cells)Easy bruising or bleeding (from having too few blood platelets)Fatigue (extreme tiredness, often from having too few red blood cells)
What are the side effects of testicular cancer surgery?
The short-term risks of any type of surgery include reactions to anesthesia, excess bleeding, blood clots, and infections. Most men will have at least some pain after the operation, which can be helped with pain medicines, if needed.
Do you feel ill with testicular cancer?
Some testicular tumors might cause pain, but most of the time they don't. Men with testicular cancer can also have a feeling of heaviness or aching in the lower belly (abdomen) or scrotum.
How long does it take to recover from testicular cancer?
You can usually start to move around after a couple of days. You will be able to go home after about 3 to 5ays. It can take a few weeks for the wound to fully heal. And you will need to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks.
How does testicular cancer affect daily life?
Testicular cancer and its treatment may have a negative impact on your quality of life. Treatments such as chemotherapy may cause disruptive side effects, such as fatigue, hair loss, nausea, and vomiting.
Can you live a normal life after testicular cancer?
This is also the time for you to talk to your cancer care team about any changes or problems you notice and any questions or concerns you have. Follow-up care is extremely important after treatment of testicular cancer because even if it comes back, it's still often curable.
What to expect after having a testicle removed?
If both your testicles were removed, you may start to notice changes in your body several weeks after surgery due to not having male hormones. The most obvious changes may be hot flashes and sweating. You may lose your sex drive, gain weight, or not be able to get an erection. These changes can be upsetting.
Is testicular cancer surgery painful?
You won't feel pain during the procedure. The doctors may numb your groin area so you can have the surgery while you're awake, or you may be given something to make you sleep. During: Your surgeon will make a small incision – a cut -- into the abdomen just above your pubic area. They will take out the whole testicle.
Does testicular cancer make you weak?
A general feeling of malaise, which may include unexplained fatigue, fever, sweating, coughing, shortness of breath and/or mild chest pain.
How do you feel with testicular cancer?
a dull ache or sharp pain in your testicles or scrotum, which may come and go. a feeling of heaviness in your scrotum.
Do you lose weight if you have testicular cancer?
If the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body it may cause: pain in the back or lower abdomen. weight loss.
Carcinoma in Situ (Stage 0) Testicular Tumors
In this stage, the cancer has not spread outside the testicle, and your tumor marker levels (like HCG and AFP) are not elevated. If CIS is diagnose...
Stage III Seminomas and Non-Seminomas
Even though stage III tumors have spread by the time they are found, most of them can still be cured.Both stage III seminomas and non-seminomas are...
Recurrent Testicular Cancer
If the cancer goes away with treatment and then comes back, it's said to have recurred or relapsed. If this happens, it’s usually within the first...
Sertoli Cell and Leydig Cell Tumors
Typically, radical inguinal orchiectomy is the treatment for Sertoli cell and Leydig cell tumors. Radiation therapy and chemo generally don't work...
More Treatment Information For Testicular Cancer
For more details on treatment options – including some that may not be addressed here – the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the Na...
What are the side effects of cancer treatment?
There are effective and readily available medications to address traditional side effects from cancer treatment (such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation and mouth sores. )
How long does it take for a woman to regain fertility after radiation?
Radiation therapy does interfere with sperm production, but most patients regain fertility 1 to 2 years after radiation.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
Common side effects include nausea, hair loss, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, chills, fever, coughing, shortness of breath, mouth sores or skin rash. Other side effects are dizziness, numbness, loss of reflexes and difficulty hearing. Men who undergo high does of chemotherapy can ...
Can testicular cancer be permanent?
Most patients recover their fertility, but it can be permanent for some patients. Men with testicular cancer often have fertility problems before their cancer is treated. Testicular cancer patients should discuss concerns about sexual function with their doctors, as well as options such as sperm banking. Side Effects.
What kind of doctor treats testicular cancer?
If your doctor suspects you could have testicular cancer, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of the urinary tract and male reproductive system (urologist) or a doctor who specializes in treating cancer (oncologist).
How to tell if a lump is testicular cancer?
In other cases, your doctor may detect a lump during a routine physical exam. To determine whether a lump is testicular cancer, your doctor may recommend: Ultrasound. A testicular ultrasound test uses sound waves to create an image of the scrotum and testicles. During an ultrasound you lie on your back with your legs spread.
What are the stages of testicular cancer?
The stages of testicular cancer are indicated by Roman numerals that range from 0 to III, with the lowest stages indicating cancer that is limited to the area around the testicle. By stage III, the cancer is considered advanced and may have spread to other areas of the body, such as the lungs.
What is the procedure to remove testicle?
Operations used to treat testicular cancer include: Surgery to remove your testicle (radical inguinal orchiectomy) is the primary treatment for nearly all stages and types of testicular cancer.
What tests can you do to check for cancer?
Blood tests. Your doctor may order tests to determine the levels of tumor markers in your blood. Tumor markers are substances that occur normally in your blood, but the levels of these substances may be elevated in certain situations, including testicular cancer. A high level of a tumor marker in your blood doesn't mean you have cancer, but it may help your doctor in determining your diagnosis.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
Side effects of chemotherapy depend on the specific drugs being used. Ask your doctor what to expect. Common side effects include fatigue, nausea, hair loss and an increased risk of infection. There are medications and treatments available that reduce some of the side effects of chemotherapy.
What is the best way to kill cancer cells?
Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. During radiation therapy, you're positioned on a table and a large machine moves around you, aiming the energy beams at precise points on your body.
How good is the prognosis for testicular cancer?
The prognosis is good for most men with testicular cancer. This form of cancer is treated successfully in more than 95 percent of cases. Even men with unfavorable risk factors have, on average, a 50 percent chance of being cured.
How do you know if you have testicular cancer?
Consult a doctor if you have any of these symptoms: Swelling or a sudden gathering of fluid in the scrotum. Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. A lump or swelling in either testicle. Build-up of fluid on the scro tum.
What type of tumors are testicular?
Nearly all testicular cancers start in the germ cells (the cells that become sperm or eggs). The main types of testicular germ cell tumors are seminomas and non-seminomas. Non-seminomas tend to grow and spread faster than seminomas. Seminomas are more sensitive to radiation, and both kinds are very sensitive to chemotherapy. If a testicular tumor has both seminoma and non-seminoma cells, it is treated as a non-seminoma.
What percentage of testicular cancers are seminomas?
Between 30 percent and 40 percent of testicular cancers are seminomas. Non-seminoma evolves from more mature germ cells. These tend to be more aggressive tumors. There are also testicular cancers that are a blend of both seminoma and non-seminoma.
What age is testicular cancer most common?
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men between ages 20 and 35. Researchers aren’t sure what causes testicular cancer. When testicular cancer is detected and treated early, the cure rate is extremely high.
What is a tumor test?
A serum tumor marker test: This procedure examines a blood sample to measure the amounts of certain substances linked to specific types of cancers. These substances are called tumor markers. The tumor markers that are often elevated in testicular cancer are alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG or beta-HCG) and lactate dehydrongenase (LDH).
When does testicular cancer occur?
Testicular cancer happens most often in men between the ages of 20 and 35. Some men who had a physical disorder of the testicles when they were young might have a higher risk. However, cancer of the testicles is rare.
What are the two prognostication models for testicular cancer?
There are two major prognostication models for testicular cancer: staging,
How many people will die from testicular cancer in 2021?
Incidence and Mortality. Estimated new cases and deaths from testicular cancer in the United States in 2021: [ 1] New cases: 9,470. Deaths: 440. Testicular cancer is a highly treatable, usually curable, cancer that most often develops in young and middle-aged men. Most testicular cancers are germ cell tumors.
What is the purpose of a CT scan of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes?
Evaluation of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, usually by CT scanning, is an important aspect of staging and treatment planning in adults with testicular cancer. [ 21, 22] Patients with a negative result have a substantial chance of having microscopic involvement of the lymph nodes.
How many men will have teratoma after chemo?
Case series of men undergoing postchemotherapy resections have reported that roughly 10% will have viable germ cell cancer, 45% will have teratoma, and 45% will have no viable tumor. [ 30] Numerous attempts have been made to identify the patients who need surgery and the patients who can be safely observed. Variables predictive of finding only necrosis or fibrosis at surgery are: [ 31]
What percentage of testicular tumors are seminomas?
[ 1] . Less than 50% of malignant testicular germ cell tumors have a single cell type, of which roughly 50% are seminomas.
How many people fathered children after testicular cancer?
In two, large studies, roughly 70% of patients actually fathered children after treatment for testicular cancer. [ 33, 34] The likelihood of recovering fertility is related to the type of treatment received.
What is an undescended testis?
An undescended testis (cryptorchidism). A family history of testis cancer (particularly in a father or brother). A personal history of testis cancer. Surgical correction of an undescended testis (orchiopexy) before puberty appears to lower the risk of testis cancer, but this isn't certain.
How long does it take for side effects to go away after radiotherapy?
They gradually get worse during the treatment. They can continue to get worse after your treatment ends. But they usually begin to improve after 1 or 2 weeks.
Can radiotherapy cause diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea. Most men having radiotherapy for testicular cancer have their tummy (abdomen) treated. This can cause diarrhoea. It's usually mild. You may not have it at all. Diarrhoea can be helped with medicine to slow down your bowel. Eating a low fibre diet may help.
What to do if cancer spreads?
But if your cancer has spread and surgery isn’t a good option, you’re going to need more treatment. That usually means radiation or chemotherapy.
What to expect if you have cancer that has spread?
You can expect to get blood tests, scans, and other procedures to make sure your cancer hasn’t come back. But if your cancer has spread and surgery isn’t a good option, you’re going to need more treatment. That usually means radiation or chemotherapy. Radiation Therapy.
What are the side effects of chemo?
The side effects of chemo can differ from one person to another, but you might: 1 Feel sick in your stomach 2 Lose hair 3 Have less energy 4 Have more chance of infection 5 Have problems with your kidneys, lungs, or nerves
What is chemo therapy?
Chemotherapy, or “chemo,” means fighting cancer cells with medicine. The drugs either kill them or stop them from splitting into more cells. You may take pills or get liquid drugs through an IV, which is a tube placed in a vein. Which kind you get depends on your case.
Can you have sperm if you have both testicles removed?
If both of them have to be removed, you can no longer make sperm or father children. And since the testicles also make the male hormone testosterone, you might have a lower sex drive. You also could lose muscle mass and have hot flashes. You may tire out more easily.
Can you smoke after cancer surgery?
If you smoke, you’ll probably want to ask your doctor for help quitting. You might find you have less interest in sex in the weeks after your surgery. This can be normal. A cancer diagnosis can be upsetting, and you may have to go through therapy that leaves you feeling tired.
Can you get lymph nodes out of your abdomen?
After Lymph Nodes Are Removed. If your doctor found that your cancer spread beyond the testicle, they may have taken out some of the lymph nodes in your abdomen as well. This procedure has a longer recovery and a higher chance of complications than removing a testicle.
What is it called when you take care of someone with testicular cancer?
Family members and friends often play an important role in taking care of a person with testicular cancer. This is called being a caregiver . Caregivers can provide physical, practical, and emotional support to the patient, even if they live far away.
What to tell your health care team about cancer?
Be sure to tell your health care team about any side effects that happen during treatment and afterward, too. Tell them even if you do not think the side effects are serious. This discussion should include physical, emotional, social, and financial effects of cancer. Also, ask how much care you may need at home and with daily tasks during ...
Can cancer cause side effects?
Every cancer treatment can cause side effects or changes to your body and how you feel. For many reasons, people do not experience the same side effects even when they are given the same treatment for the same type of cancer. This can make it hard to predict how you will feel during treatment. As you prepare to start cancer treatment, it is normal ...
Is cancer treatment expensive?
Cancer treatment can be expensive. It is often a big source of stress and anxiety for people with cancer and their families. In addition to treatment costs, many people find they have extra, unplanned expenses related to their care.
What is the treatment for testicular cancer?
Radiation Therapy for Testicular Cancer. Radiation therapy uses a beam of high-energy rays (such as gamma rays or x-rays) or particles (such as electrons, protons, or neutrons) to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth. In treating testicular cancer , radiation is used mainly to kill cancer cells that have spread to lymph nodes.
How does radiation therapy affect testicular cancer?
The treatment of testicular cancer often uses lower radiation doses than those needed for other types of cancer.
Where is the lymph node used after orchiectomy?
Sometimes it’s used after orchiectomy (the operation to remove the testicle) and is directed at the lymph nodes at the back of the abdomen (the retroperitoneal lymph nodes). This is to kill any tiny bits of cancer in those lymph nodes that can’t be seen.
How is testicular cancer diagnosed?
Self-examination can help in early diagnosis and treatment. The affected testes is enlarged, firm and usually painless. The physician performs a complete physical assessment. Complete blood and radiological assessment is performed .
What is the procedure to remove a tumor from the testicle?
Orchiectomy: Removal of the testicle. A prosthetic can be placed. Testes-sparing surgery ( TSS ): The tumor is carefully removed and the healthy part of the testis is left behind. This is ideal for patients with small tumors or benign/ non-cancerous tumors.
What age does testicular cancer occur?
Age: Testicular cancer usually occurs between the age of 20 to 35. Race: It is more common in white men than other races. Undescended testes (cryptorchidism): Surgical correction of undescended testes before puberty reduces the risk of testicular cancer.
How many men have testicular cancer?
One of every 250 males develops testicular cancer at some point in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Because testicular cancer is usually treated successfully, the risk of dying due to the cancer is about 1 in 5,000 of diagnosed men.
What type of cancer is testicular?
Most testicular cancers are germ cell (cells that produce sperm) tumors. There are two main types of testicular cancer.
Where is testicular cancer located?
The testicles are responsible for the production of male sex hormones and sperm. They are located within the scrotum, a loose bag of skin below the penis. Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer occurring in American males from the ages of 15 through 35.
What is the treatment for cancer?
Chemotherapy: The tumor cells are killed with cancer medication. Targeted therapy: This treatment uses medication to target certain genetic, protein, or other changes in and around cancer cells. Stem cell therapy may be a treatment option in some cases.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Coping and Support
Specialist to consult
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