Conditions & Treatments

Testicular Cancer - Other Information

I have had a lump in my testis for a while. It is not painful.
Testicular cancer is usually not painful. If there is a lump seek early medical attention. Although it may not be cancerous, it is better to have it checked.

I have only one testis.
Normally, two testes are formed in the embryo, which descend before birth to lie in the scrotum. Occasionally one or both testes do not descend. There is a higher chance of cancer developing in undescended testes; therefore it is advisable to seek early medical attention. Surgery may be required to bring the testis back into the scrotum.

Will cancer treatment for testicular cancer affect my ability to have children in the future and how can that be mitigated?
Yes, fertility will be affected by chemotherapy and as such your physician will likely refer you to a reproductive clinic for cryopreservation of your sperm to be used at a later stage post treatment should the need arise.

References

¹Williams SD, Birch R, Einhorn LH, et al. Treatment of disseminated germ-cell tumors with cisplatin, bleomycin, and either vinblastine or etoposide. N Engl J Med 1987; 316:1435.

²Oliver RT, Mead GM, Rustin GJ, et al. Randomized Trial of Carboplatin Versus Radiotherapy for Stage I Seminoma: Mature Results on Relapse and Contralateral Testis Cancer Rates in MRC TE19/EORTC 30982 Study. J Clin Oncol 2011; 29:957.