Testicular Cancer
Other Treatment
Radiation therapy is a common treatment for seminoma germ-cell tumors. Because the lymph nodes in the pelvis and lower back (retroperitoneum) are the most common areas of metastasis for testicular cancer, radiation is commonly focused on that area.
In some cases, radiation therapy may be the best treatment option for completely curing testicular cancer. However, when planning your treatment with your health professional, it is important to discuss the benefits, risks, and possible side effects of each treatment.
Radiation therapy can cause long-term health conditions—although it is uncommon—including infertility and an increased chance of developing cancer later in life.
Other Treatment Choices
What To Think About
The treatment options available to you will depend on a number of factors, including the type of cancer cells present, the stage of your cancer, your overall health, and your willingness to strictly follow your doctor's follow-up schedule. If you have an early-stage cancer, you may be given the option of having radiation therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells, or another treatment such as surgery or chemotherapy. Your decision about which treatment to receive will be based on balancing the benefits with the risks and possible side effects of each treatment option, including the effects on your quality of life and the possibility that your cancer will return.
Most side effects of radiation therapy are short-term and do not pose any serious health threat. But in rare cases, radiation can lead to infertility or cancer later in life:
- Infertility. Radiation therapy for testicular cancer has also been connected with permanent infertility in some men. Because the majority of men diagnosed with testicular cancer are younger than 35, fertility issues are often an important part of the decision about which treatment to receive. Even though most radiation treatment programs do not permanently affect healthy sperm counts, many health professionals recommend sperm banking before radiation therapy, for those men who may wish to have children in the future.
- Another cancer. Radiation therapy, although focused on cancer cells, also exposes many of the body's healthy cells to harmful radiation. Because many men who undergo successful treatment for testicular cancer go on to live for decades, damage to the body's healthy cells caused by radiation may not become apparent until many years after treatment is completed. Although rare, secondary cancers resulting from radiation therapy may include leukemia, as well as cancers of the colon, bladder, kidneys, and prostate.
Complementary therapies
In addition to conventional medical treatment, complementary therapies may improve the quality of your life by helping you manage the stress and side effects of cancer treatment. However, these complementary therapies should not replace standard therapy.
- Acupuncture
- Herbs
- Biofeedback
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Guided imagery
- Vitamins and nutritional supplements
Before you try any of these therapies, discuss their possible benefits and side effects with your health professional. Let him or her know if you are already using any such therapies. For more information, see the topic Complementary Medicine.
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| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW | Last Updated: February 5, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology | |
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