Testicular cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplantation, or a combination of these. The treatment options that are best for you depend on the type and stage of the cancer, as well as its rate of growth.

Surgical approaches for testicular cancer

If testicular cancer is detected early, surgery may be the only type of treatment you need. Surgical procedures include radical inguinal orchiectomy, in which your doctor removes the affected testicle through a small incision in the groin. If both testes are affected, your doctor may perform bilateral orchiectomy, where both testicles are removed. For aesthetic purposes, your doctor may insert artificial testicles, otherwise known as prosthetic testicles or testicular implants, in the scrotum.

If the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes in the groin, the lymph nodes may be removed via retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. This surgery is performed through a large incision in the abdomen, and can be performed in conjunction with either type of orchiectomy surgery.

Chemotherapy

If your cancer has spread beyond the testes, chemotherapy is often used to locate and destroy the cancer cells. Typically a combination (a cocktail) of chemotherapy drugs is used to target rapidly dividing cells. Chemotherapy drugs include cisplatin, bleomycin, or etopiside. The drug cocktail can be administered orally, intravenously, or can be injected directly into the testicles.

Radiation therapy

Some types of testicular cancer respond well to radiation therapy in which high-energy rays are used to destroy cancer cells. Radiation is particularly effective in treating seminomas, slow-moving, localized cancer, and may be administered over the course of two weeks.

Stem cell transplantation

Stem cell transplantation is sometimes recommended for those who have aggressive, recurring testicular cancer. In this approach, the body is encouraged to promote healthy blood cell growth by injecting stem cells (immature blood cells) into the patient. Stem cells are generally harvested and extracted from the blood or bone marrow. This procedure is typically done after chemotherapy since it sometimes destroys blood-forming cells.