The treatments of testicular cancer depend on the type and stage of cancer.

surgery

Extraction of the cancer-affected testicle by inguinal surgery is almost always the first and often the only treatment needed. It usually does not affect fertility or the ability to erect, since the remaining testis is enough to produce the necessary hormones and sperm. A testicular prosthesis is placed during the operation to reduce the psychological and aesthetic impact of theorchidectomie(removal of a testicle), but it is not mandatory.

Surgery is systematically associated with sperm preservation. Indeed, even if fertility is preserved, if chemo or radiotherapy treatment is necessary or if the other testicle is affected by cancer, it is still possible to have children. Sometimes some lymph nodes are also removed by surgery in addition to the affected testicle.

Careful monitoring

Once theremoval of the testicle achieved, some patients will have to undergo regular blood tests and radiological examinations for a few years. This follow-up is essential in order to avoid having to resort to radiotherapy or chemotherapy when all is well (disease localized to the testicle), or to undertake them quickly if there is a change in the radiological image or in the blood test ( disease outside the testicle).

Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy can be used as an adjunct after surgery to prevent cancer cells from spreading to lymph nodes in the abdomen. Radiation therapy is done when the cancer is a seminoma, a type of tumor that is very sensitive to radiation.

It can cause a infertility temporary or permanent, but usually does not interfere with erection ability.

Chemotherapy

It is also quite often used in addition to surgery with removal of the testicle. Indeed, testicular tumors are very sensitive to certain chemotherapies. After the operation, to prevent a few cancer cells from remaining active, preventive chemotherapy may be performed, depending on the type of cancer and the extent of the tumor.

Chemotherapy can cause several side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, hair loss, infertility and increase the risk of infection.

Self-preservation of sperm

The medical team systematically offers a man treated to preserve his fertility fragile before potentially toxic treatments. Sperm can be stored before the removal of the sperm. testicle, which provides a better chance of obtaining good quality sperm after thawing. Once healed, you have the choice of whether or not to use the frozen semen straws for years.