Skip the primary navigation if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Skip the main content if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Your treatment will depend on the type of testicular cancer you have, and whether it has spread.
Almost all patients have their testicle removed. This operation is called an orchidectomy.
The surgeon makes a cut in the groin and takes the testicle out. At the same time s/he may take a sample of tissue from your other testicle, to check whether there are early signs of another cancer. You have a general anaesthetic for this operation. Your surgeon will normally disucss with you, before the operation, the possibility of insterting a prosthesis (an artificial testicle). This can either be done at the same time that the testicle is removed, or at a second operation at a later date.
If your cancer is a seminoma you are likely to have radiotherapy after your orchidectomy. This is to try to get rid of any cancer cells left behind after surgery. Radiotherapy uses radiation to kill cancer cells.
If your cancer is a non-seminoma you may need chemotherapy after your operation, especially if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Chemotherapy uses special drugs to kill cancer cells, and around one in five non-seminoma patients have it after surgery.
If you don’t need this chemotherapy or radiotherapy, you will be offered surveillance instead. This means you will have regular follow up checks to look for signs of cancer in the body. If you then need more treatment, your doctor will discuss the options with you.
Some patients who do have chemotherapy need more surgery afterwards, to take out any remaining lymph nodes at the back of the abdomen. This operation is called a retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy.
A few patients have secondary cancers on their lungs, and need surgery to remove them.
Your doctor will tell you about the risks, benefits and side effects of the treatments, and how they may affect your life afterwards.
You will then need to agree to the treatment before it can start. This is called giving your consent. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if there is anything you don’t understand.
For more information about treatments, go to our cancer treatments section.
