What is Testes Cancer Treatment?

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What is the meaning of Testes Cancer Treatment?

Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the main types of testes cancer treatment. Testes or testicular cancer is cancer that begins in either one or both the testes.

Testes are the male reproductive glands that are located inside the scrotum, which is a pouch of skin that is located underneath the penis. Testes are responsible for the production of sperms and the male sex hormone, testosterone. Testicular cancer is mostly seen in males between the ages of 15 and 35, but it can occur at any age. Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable cancers. In today’s article, we will be discussing in detail about testicular cancer and its treatment.

• What are the types of Testes Cancer?
• What are the causes of Testes Cancer?
• What are the risk factors for Testes Cancer?
• What are the symptoms of Testes Cancer?
• How to diagnose Testes Cancer?
• What are the various Testes Cancer Treatments?
• What are the complications of Testes Cancer Treatments?
• How to prevent Testes Cancer?
• What is the cost of Testes Cancer Treatment in India?

What are the types of Testes Cancer?

Testes cancer usually begins in the germ cells. Germ cells are the cells in the testes that are responsible for the production of sperms. 

The different types of testes cancer are:

• Seminomas: These are types of germ cell tumors that grow slowly. These tumors are usually confined to the testes, but the lymph nodes may also be involved.
• Nonseminomas: This is the most common type of testes cancer. These are fast-growing germ cell tumors that may spread to other parts of the body.
• Gonadal stromal tumors: These types of tumors are seen in the tissues that produce hormones.

What are the causes of Testes Cancer?

The exact cause of testes cancer is unknown. Testes cancer occurs when the healthy cells in the testes become altered. Mostly all the testicular cancers begin in the germ cells, which are the cells in the testicles producing immature sperm. When the cells develop abnormalities, they start growing out of control. The accumulation of these cells creates a mass in the testicle, known as a tumor.

What are the risk factors for Testes Cancer?

Certain factors increase the chances of developing testes cancer. These factors It:

• Age between 15 and 35 years
• More common in white men
• Family history of testes cancer
• Cryptorchidism (when one or both the testes do not descend down into the scrotum before birth)
• Klinefelter syndrome (abnormal development of the testes)
• Infertile men ( Know more about- What is Erectile Dysfunction? Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention )

What are the symptoms of Testes Cancer?

The following symptoms are seen in cases of testes cancer:

• Lump in either of the testes
• Heaviness of scrotum
• Dull pain in the groin or stomach
• Pain or discomfort in the testes
• Sudden fluid collection in the scrotum
• Back pain ( Know more about- What is Coccydynia ( tailbone pain )? Causes, Symptoms, Treatments )

How to diagnose Testes Cancer?

• Physical examination: The doctor examines the patient physically and checks for the presence of a lump or any other changes in the testes. The doctor also inquires about the medical history and family history of the patient.
• Ultrasound: It is a procedure of using high-energy sound waves to create images of the internal organs of the body.
• Serum tumor marker test: This procedure includes the examination of the blood sample for measuring the amount of certain substances, known as tumor markers, that are linked to specific types of cancers. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) are tumor markers that are often elevated in cases of testes cancer.
• Inguinal orchiectomy and biopsy: This procedure involves the removal of entire testes by making an incision in the groin. A tissue sample is then removed from the testicle to check for the presence of cancer cells.
• CT scans and X-rays: These are imaging tests done to create clear images of the internal organs of the body.

What are the various Testes Cancer Treatments?

The treatment for testes cancer depends on the type of cancer, the severity of the condition, and the overall health of the patient. The various modes of treatment for testes cancer are:

• Surgery:

• • Radical inguinal orchiectomy: It is the most common type of treatment for testes cancer. It involves the removal of the testes. The surgeon first makes an incision (cut) in the groin region and removes the entire testicle. The doctor may insert an artificial, saline-filled testicle in its place. This is the only form of treatment that is needed in the early stages of testicular cancer.
  • Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection: It is a surgery performed for the removal of the nearby lymph nodes by making an incision in the abdomen. In case of accidental damage to the nerves, there may be difficulty in ejaculation but will not affect the erection of a man. ( Know more about- What is Prostate Surgery? Purpose, Tests, Procedure, Aftercare, Cost )

• Radiation therapy:

• • This procedure involves the use of high-powered energy beams such as x-rays and protons to kill the cancer cells.
  • This type of treatment may be used in cases of seminoma type of testes cancer.
  • Radiation therapy may also be recommended after surgery for the removal of the testes.

• Chemotherapy:

• • This procedure involves the use of certain medications to kill the cancer cells.
  • These drugs travel through the bloodstream in the body to kill the cancer cells.
  • Chemotherapy can be used as the only form of treatment for testes cancer, or it may be recommended before or after lymph node removal surgery. ( Know more about- What is Chemotherapy? Types, Procedure, Side effects, Aftercare, Cost )

What are the complications of Testes Cancer Treatments?

The various complications associated with testes cancer treatments are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Skin irritation
• Redness of the skin
• Temporary reduction in sperm count
• Infertility ( Know more about- What is Vasectomy? Purpose, Procedure, Complications, Cost )
• Hair loss
• Risk of infection (Know more about-What are the symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Diseases?Types, Prevention)
• Risk of recurrence of cancer 

If you notice any of the above complications post testes cancer treatment, contact your doctor.

How to prevent Testes Cancer?

Although there is no way to prevent testes cancer, the doctors recommend regular self-examination of the testicles to detect testes cancer at an early stage and treat it. Early correction of cryptorchidism in young males ( due to other reasons like preserving male infertility, body image enhancement ) may reduce the risk of testes cancer. 

What is the cost of Testes Cancer Treatment in India?

The total cost of testes cancer treatment in India can range from around INR 4,00,000 to INR 30,00,000. However, the cost of the procedure may vary across different hospitals. There are many big hospitals and specialized doctors in India for testes cancer treatment. The cost varies across different hospitals.

If you are coming from abroad, in addition to the expenses of testes cancer treatment, there will be a cost of staying in a hotel, cost of living, and cost of local travel. Apart from this, after the procedure, the patient is kept in hospital for 5 days and in the hotel for 15 days for recovery. So, the total cost of testes cancer treatment in India will be around INR 5,00,000 to INR 30,00,000. 

We hope that we were able to answer all your questions regarding testes cancer and testes cancer treatment through this article.

If you want more information and treatment for testes cancer, you can contact the Surgical Oncologist.

We only aim to give you information through the article and do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you the best advice and correct treatment plan.