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  2. Treatment
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Treatment options

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  • A|A

Treatment and care of people with cancer is usually provided by a team of health professionals, both medical and allied health, called a multidisciplinary team.

Treatment for testicular cancer depends on:

  • the results of your diagnostic tests
  • the type of testicular cancer you have
  • whether it has spread
  • your age
  • whether you want to have children in the future
  • your general health
  • your personal preferences.

Surgery

Surgery is almost always used to remove the affected testicle. This is called an orchidectomy. If the cancer hasn’t spread, this might be the only treatment you need.

Your doctor may also decide to remove some lymph nodes in the abdomen (belly) if the cancer has spread.

Chemotherapy

If the cancer has spread, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy

After surgery, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy to kill any cancer cells that may have spread to the lymph nodes in the belly.

Side effects

Some treatments may have specific side effects on male functioning, as well as other more general side effects.

Erectile dysfunction

Chemotherapy may cause erectile dysfunction or decreased sex drive. These side effects are usually temporary, and function often returns to normal after the treatment ends.

Infertility

A side effect of radiation therapy is decreased sperm production or damaged sperm, which may be temporary or permanent. Chemotherapy may also cause temporary or permanent decreased sperm production.

You may still be fertile (able to have children) while having chemotherapy or radiation therapy, even if sperm are affected. It is important to use contraception (protection during sex) during and for a time after treatment, so a partner does not become pregnant. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause abnormal development of a fetus.

Your doctor will not know if infertility as a result of treatment will be permanent or temporary. If you wish to have children in the future, you should consider sperm banking before having treatment. Sperm banking is the process of freezing sperm and storing it for later use.

  • Last Updated
  • References
  • Relevant Links
updated: 30 December 2022 - 3:20pm

National Cancer Institute. Testicular cancer treatment (PDQ): patient version.

National Cancer Institute. Testicular cancer treatment (PDQ): health professional version.

American Cancer Society, Testicular cancer
National Cancer Institute (US), Testicular cancer treatment (PDQ®), patient version
Australian Cancer Trials

Related information

What is cancer?
What is cancer?

Cancer is a disease of the cells, which are the body’s basic building blocks.

Treatment and side effects
Treatment and side effects

The treatment that your doctors recommend will depend on the type of cancer you have, how advanced it is, and other personal factors.

Living with cancer
Living with cancer

A diagnosis of cancer marks the beginning of a journey full of emotional, psychological, physical and practical challenges.

Life after cancer
Life after cancer

While looking forward to finishing their cancer treatment and getting on with life, for some people, the end of treatment can also be a confusing or worrying time.

A-Z List of Cancer Types

Information on more than 70 types of cancer

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About Cancer Australia

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