Treatments

This information represents the views of the doctors and nurses serving on the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Database Editorial Board. These views are based on their interpretation of studies published in medical journals, as well as their own professional experience. The treatment information in this document is not official policy of the Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.

Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don’t hesitate to ask him or her questions about your treatment options.

Making treatment decisions

In recent years, a lot of progress has been made in treating testicular cancer. Surgical methods have been refined, and doctors know more about the best ways to use chemotherapy and radiation to treat different types of testicular cancer. After the cancer is diagnosed and staged, your cancer care team will discuss treatment options with you. Depending on the type and stage of the cancer and other factors, treatment options for testicular cancer can include: Surgery Radiation therapy Chemotherapy (chemo).

High-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. In some cases, more than one of type of treatment might be used.

Medical team

You may have different types of doctors on your treatment team, depending on the stage of your cancer and your treatment options. These doctors may include:

• A urologist: a surgeon who specializes in treating diseases of the urinary system and male reproductive system
• A radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy
• A medical oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy

Many other specialists might be involved in your care as well, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, physical therapists, social workers, and other health professionals. See Health Professionals Associated With Cancer Care for more on this.

It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options as well as their possible side effects with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. (See the section “What should you ask your doctor about testicular cancer?” for some questions to ask.)

When time permits, getting a second opinion is often a good idea. It can give you more information and help you feel good about the treatment plan you choose. Where you are treated is important. There is no substitute for experience. You have the best chance for a good outcome if you go to a hospital that treats many testicular cancer patients.

Therapies

In most cases, surgery to remove the affected testicle is the first line of treatment. It is called an orchiectomy.

Depending on the type of germ cell tumor, serum marker analysis and scan results, your health care team will identify the stage of the cancer and decide if other type of therapies are required at this time. Options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery.

If scan and blood test results are normal, you may need other treatments. However you will be required to regularly and frequently undergo blood tests, x-rays and other types of scans for many years to come. Later on, should results become abnormal and indicate a recurrence of the cancer, you will need to be treated (probably with chemotherapy).

Should you have a seminoma, even if scan results are normal, you may need abdominal radiation therapy. If you have a non-seminoma, you may need surgery for abdominal lymphatic nodes, a procedure called a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.

Your physician may have other reasons for suggesting a treatment plan other than these general therapeutic options. Do not hesitate to ask him or her questions about the various available options.

Some patients use medicinal plants, high doses of vitamins or strict diets. Before you consider such things, it is important that you discuss this with a member of your healthcare team. Some of these products could be harmful to your therapy.

Our information is derived from opinions expressed by physicians and nursing personnel who sit on the data base editorial committee of the American Cancer Society. Such opinions are based on the interpretation of studies published in medical journals and on their own professional experiences. The information on therapeutic options presented herein does not represent the official position of the American Cancer Society and does not aim to provide medical advice in lieu of the expertise or the judgement of your oncology medical team. The objective of this information is to help you and your family make informed decisions in conjunction with your physician.

Effects on fertility

Cancer fighting treatments can require surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. These are used to destroy cancer cells while avoiding, as much as possible, to destroy healthy cells. Such treatments can alter the reproduction function and lead to a temporary or permanent loss of fertility.

The risk of becoming sterile depends on the treatment, its duration and the doses used. Indeed, it varies a great deal from one patient to another. The risk depends on how well the stem cells that produce sperm tolerate therapies. Regular sperm monitoring tests are conducted over a long period of time to verify sperm production evolution.

The next few sections describe the different types of treatments used for testicular cancers. This is followed by a discussion of the most common treatment options, based on the type and extent of the disease.

Some patients use medicinal plants, high doses of vitamins or strict diets. Before you consider such things, it is important that you discuss this with a member of your healthcare team. Some of these products could be harmful to your therapy.

Source : http://www.e-cancer.fr/publications/82-les-cancers/767-les-traitements-des-cancers-du-testicule