Testicular cancer occurs most frequently in younger men between the ages of 15 and 35. Fortunately, it is highly treatable.
Our Testicular Cancer Program offers nationally recognized treatments as well as access to the latest treatment protocols from Memorial Sloan Kettering – one of the country’s premier cancer centers.
Testicular Cancer Symptoms
Testicular cancer is usually found in only one testicle. Patients may find a lump or feel a sensation of heaviness in the scrotom. They might also have pain there, or feel back pain. Sometimes testicular cancer can also cause tender or enlarged breasts.
Treatments for Testicular Cancer
Surgery for Testicular Cancer
Removing the cancerous testicle with a surgery called a radical inguinal orchiectomy is sometimes the only treatment required. Lymph nodes in the peritoneal area sometimes also must be removed. Sparing as much healthy tissue as possible avoids nerve damage that could cause ejaculation issues.
Radiation and Chemotherapy for Testicular Cancer
Sometimes radiation therapy is recommended after the removal of the affected testicle. Because radiation therapy for testicular cancer has a high chance of causing infertility, we recommend patients consider fertility precautions like sperm preservation before having radiation.
If the cancer has spread to other organs, chemotherapy treatment is required. Like radiation, chemotherapy for testicular cancer often causes infertility, so sperm preservation techniques are recommended.
Risk Factors for Testicular Cancer
Most men who get testicular cancer have no risk factors. Family history of testicular cancer may increase your risk, as can certain conditions like Klinefelter’s syndrome that cause abnormal development of the testicles. If you have an undescended testicle you are at increased risk of developing testicular cancer. But most testicular cancer patients do not have an undescended testicle.
How Testicular Cancer is Diagnosed
Most cases of testicular cancer are found during a routine physical exam or by the patient during self-examination. If a lump is detected, imaging the scrotum and testicles with ultrasound can help to diagnose testicular cancer. Blood tests are also used to determine tumor marker levels. CT scans of the abdomen, chest and pelvis can identify whether the cancer has spread to other organs.