Treatment Options for Testicular Cancer
Treatment for testicular cancer is based mainly on the type and stage of the cancer. One or more of the following treatment protocols may be used during treatment:
- Surgery to remove the affected testicle and sometimes nearby lymph nodes
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- High-Dose Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant
Radiation therapy is typically used for patients with seminoma as it is very sensitive to radiation. Often radiation therapy is used after removing the testicle to kill any cancer in lymph nodes that can’t be seen. It can also be used to treat small amounts of seminoma that have spread to these nodes. Radiation therapy is also sometimes used to treat testicular cancer that has spread to other organs. You can trust the experts at Tampa Bay Radiation Oncology to design a treatment plan for your testicular cancer that is as advanced and non-invasive as possible.
Contact Tampa Bay Radiation Oncology today for more information about testicular cancer and testicular cancer treatment options. Tampa Bay Radiation Oncology has multiple Florida facilities located in the Tampa Bay area in Tampa, FL and Brandon, FL.
About Testicular Cancer
Cells of the testicles can develop into one or more types of cancer. The type of cell in which the cancer starts and what kind of cancer it is determines how it’s treated and its prognosis. Types of testicular cancer are determined by examining cancer cells under a microscope.
The vast majority of testicle cancers start in germ cells: the cells that make sperm. Two main types of germ cell tumors occur about equally in the testicles: seminomas and non-seminomas. Many testicular cancers contain both seminoma and non-seminoma cells. Seminomas tend to grow and spread more slowly than non-seminomas. There are four types of non-seminoma tumors: embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, and teratoma. Most tumors are a mix of different types, but treatment of most non-seminoma cancers is typically the same.
Testicular germ cell cancers can start as a non-invasive cancer called carcinoma in situ (CIS). In testicular CIS, the cells look abnormal, but have not yet spread to where sperm cells are formed. Carcinoma in situ doesn’t always progress to invasive cancer.
Cancers that start in another organ and then metastasize to the testicles are called secondary testicular cancers. These are not true testicular cancers because they don’t start in the testicles. They’re named and treated based on where they started.
Symptoms of Testicular Cancer
Many symptoms of testicular cancer can be attributed to other conditions, and some men with testicular cancer have no symptoms, so it’s important to have regular examinations and see your doctor right away if you do experience any of the following symptoms:
- A lump or swelling in the testicle
- Breast soreness or growth
- Early puberty
- Low back pain
- Chest pain, persistent cough, or shortness of breath
- Abdominal pain
- Confusion and headaches
These symptoms, however, may be caused by conditions other than testicular cancer, so it’s important to perform regular self-examinations of the testicles and to see a doctor if you experience anything abnormal.