How is testicular cancer treated?
Every patient at Miami Cancer Institute receives a personalized treatment plan put together by our team of medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists and interventional oncologists.
Our philosophy is to find the plan that not only treats the cancer, but also fits you as a patient. Your team will consider your specific diagnosis and type of tumor, the stage of disease, size and location of tumor and whether it has spread to other parts of your body. We also work closely with physical therapists, nurses, nutritionists and psychosocial experts to ensure we address any potential side effects of treatment.
Surgery is often the first step to treating testicular cancer. During this procedure, surgeons will remove the tumor and the testicle where it is located (radical orchiectomy). In some cases, this may be the only treatment needed for tumors that have not spread beyond the testicle.
It's important to note that surgery to remove your testicle will not affect your fertility or your ability to maintain an erection.
If your cancer has spread, we may recommend surgery to remove the lymph nodes in your retroperitoneum, which is the space behind the lining of your abdomen (peritoneum). This surgery is called retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, or RPLND. During RPLND, your surgeon may also stop blood supply to the cancerous testicle.