Testicular cancer

Treatment

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center experts offer comprehensive care for testicular cancer, including advanced treatments.

Men with localized testicular cancer come to the Fred Hutch Prostate Oncology Center at UW Medical Center for care. If your disease is advanced, your first visit may be at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center - South Lake Union. Our testicular cancer specialists see patients at both locations.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you can safely take one to three months to do research, get a second opinion and carefully consider your options.

A diagnosis of cancer can feel overwhelming. We have an experienced, compassionate team ready to help.

Testicular cancer expertise at Fred Hutch

Everything you need is here

We have surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and pathologists who specialize in testicular cancer; the most advanced diagnostic, treatment and recovery programs; and extensive support.

Pathologist A physician who has special training in identifying diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope. Radiation oncologist A physician who has special training in using radiation to treat cancer.

Testicular cancer treatment tailored to you

We view treatment as a collaborative effort. Your Fred Hutch doctors will explain all your options and recommend a treatment plan to get you the best results based on the type and stage of your cancer and your health, lifestyle and preferences.

Stage The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. Treatment plan A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A treatment plan may also include information about how much the treatment is likely to cost and about regular follow-up care after treatment ends.

Team-based approach

Your personal team includes more than your testicular cancer doctors, nurses and patient care coordinators. Additional experts who specialize in treating people with cancer will be involved if you need them — experts like a dietitian, pharmacist, social worker or palliative care professional.

Learn More About Supportive Care Services

Ongoing care and support

During and after treatment, your team continues to provide follow-up care on a schedule tailored to you. Our patients say they find it reassuring to see the same doctors who treated them for their follow-up visits. The Fred Hutch Survivorship Clinic is also here to help you live your healthiest life as a testicular cancer survivor.

Treatment types

Treatment looks different for different people depending on your diagnosis. We tailor your treatment plan to you. Learn more about the treatment types offered at Fred Hutch.

Treatment plan A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A treatment plan may also include information about how much the treatment is likely to cost and about regular follow-up care after treatment ends.

Surgery

Most men with testicular cancer have surgery. The type of surgery depends on how advanced the cancer is. Your Fred Hutch surgeon will talk with you in detail about the procedure we recommend for you, why and what to expect.

Typical procedures are:

Radical inguinal orchiectomy — removing the affected testicle and spermatic cord through an incision in your groin. Surgeons remove the spermatic cord because it can serve as a pathway for cancer cells to travel to other parts of your body.
Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection — removing lymph nodes in your abdomen, usually through an incision in your abdomen. This is done for more advanced disease.

Removing lymph nodes may affect nerves that control ejaculation, leading to infertility, but this doesn’t affect your ability to have an erection. Surgeons use methods to protect the nerves that control ejaculation (nerve-sparing techniques) when they can.

Surgery

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. Usually, lower doses of radiation can be used to treat testicular cancer compared to other cancers.

Your radiation oncologist will design a specific course of treatment for your individual situation — to deliver radiation to your cancer, where radiation is needed, and limit exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

Some men develop infertility as a result of radiation therapy. In some cases, fertility returns after the treated areas heal.

Oncologist A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment, such as treating cancer with radiation. A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment. For example, a radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer with radiation. Radiation therapy The use of high-energy radiation from X-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. Usually, lower doses of radiation can be used to treat testicular cancer compared to other cancers.

Chemotherapy

Doctors commonly use chemotherapy to treat testicular cancer that has spread beyond the testicles. Often they use a combination of medicines, usually given by infusion into a vein.

Your Fred Hutch team will talk with you about the specific medicines we recommend for you, how you’ll receive them, your treatment schedule and what to expect. We’ll also explain how to take the best possible care of yourself during treatment and after, and we’ll connect you with medical and support resources throughout Fred Hutch.

Chemotherapy Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It may be given alone or with other treatments. Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy may be given by mouth, injection, infusion or on the skin, depending on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. It may be given alone or with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy or biologic therapy. Infusion An injection of medications or fluids into a vein over a period of time.

Chemotherapy

Doctors commonly use chemotherapy to treat testicular cancer that has spread beyond the testicles. Often they use a combination of medicines, usually given by infusion into a vein.

Bone marrow transplant

Chemotherapy is highly effective at killing cancer cells, but it has the unwanted side effect of killing healthy cells too.

One promising new development in the treatment of advanced testicular cancer is bone marrow transplantation. Transplant allows doctors to give you high doses of chemotherapy, followed by healthy cells to help your body recover.

In this procedure:

You receive medicine to coax your blood-forming stem cells from your bone marrow into your bloodstream.
Your transplant team filters your stem cells from your blood and freezes them for storage while you have high-dose chemotherapy.
After chemotherapy, the team transplants your stem cells back into your body (autologous transplant) to replenish the healthy cells that were destroyed.

By allowing doctors to use stronger chemotherapy, this type of transplant may increase the cure rate.

Learn more about the Fred Hutch Bone Marrow Transplant Program, including the lifelong support you get through our Long-Term Follow-Up Program for transplant recipients.

Bone marrow The soft, spongy material in the center of your bones that produces all your blood cells, such as white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Bone marrow transplant The process of treating disease with high doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both. Bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells are given after treatment to help the body make more blood cells. The process of treating disease with high doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or both. Because this treatment destroys the bone marrow’s ability to produce blood cells, bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells are given after treatment to help the body make more blood cells. Chemotherapy Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It may be given alone or with other treatments. Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy may be given by mouth, injection, infusion or on the skin, depending on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. It may be given alone or with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy or biologic therapy. High-dose chemotherapy An intensive drug treatment to kill cancer cells. It also destroys bone marrow and can cause side effects. High-dose chemotherapy is usually followed by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. Side effects A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some side effects of cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss and mouth sores. Stem cell A cell from which other types of cells develop. For example, blood cells develop from blood-forming stem cells.

Bone marrow transplant

Chemotherapy is highly effective at killing cancer cells, but it has the unwanted side effect of killing healthy cells too.

Infertility after testicular cancer

Treatment for testicular cancer can cause infertility. The risk depends on the elements of your specific treatment plan. Your Fred Hutch team will talk with you about the potential side effects of your treatment and all your fertility options, including sperm banking, in which your healthy sperm is frozen and stored for later use. We work closely with the Men's Health Center at UWMC-Roosevelt, which specializes in men's fertility.

Side effects A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some side effects of cancer treatment are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss and mouth sores. Treatment plan A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A detailed plan with information about a patient’s disease, the goal of treatment, the treatment options for the disease and the possible side effects and expected length of treatment. A treatment plan may also include information about how much the treatment is likely to cost and about regular follow-up care after treatment ends.

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