Testicular Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Overview

The Testicular Cancer Program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi offers the most advanced approaches to diagnosing and treating testicular cancer, close to home. Our multidisciplinary team consists of surgical, medical and radiation oncologists, experienced in performing the latest, minimally invasive surgical, medical, and non-surgical techniques to ensure patient comfort and the best possible outcome.

Our program also offers specialized radiologists and pathologists who are experts in their field, offering the latest developments in cancer research and technology. Having dedicated imaging and pathology specialists for each cancer type ensures accurate assessment helping to detect and diagnose cancer at an early stage.

We offer the very latest radiation oncology therapies for treating testicular cancer, supporting better outcomes for our patients. We offer state-of-the-art stereotactic radiotherapy and Ethos adaptive radiotherapy, a cutting-edge treatment modality that combines advanced imaging technology with innovative radiation therapy techniques.

Working together, our expert team provides support for men diagnosed with testicular cancer, with every patient receiving the most discrete, compassionate, and personalized care possible.

Why Choose Us?

We work closely with Cleveland Clinic in the US, taking a collaborative approach to care and offering access to one of the world’s most experienced teams in treating a range of cancers – an important differentiating factor when it comes to cancer care. Working together, we diagnose your condition and meet regularly as a Tumor Board to discuss each patient and ensure the most appropriate decisions about your customized treatment are made.

What We Treat

Testicular cancer occurs when cancerous cells develop in the tissues of a testicle. It is the most common cancer in men aged 20 to 35 but it usually is curable.

There are two main types of testicular cancers:

Seminoma: Begins in cells called germ cells and grows slowly.
Non-seminoma: Begins in mature germ cells and is more aggressive.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis of Testicular Cancer

If your doctor suspects testicular cancer, a physical exam will be performed and a full medical history taken, followed by an ultrasound. The painless test allows the doctor to see any abnormalities within the testicle. If the ultrasound shows evidence of cancer, surgery to remove the testicle is performed and it is then examined to see if cancer is present. Testicular cancer can only be diagnosed after the testicle is removed. Removing a small piece of tissue via a biopsy is not possible as penetrating the testicle can make it difficult to treat cancer (if it is discovered). Other diagnostic tests include:

A serum tumor marker test: A blood sample measures the amount substances called tumor markers: alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG or beta-HCG) and lactate dehydrongenase (LDH).

CT and PET scans: Performed to see whether cancer has spread elsewhere in the body in certain cases.

Treatment of Testicular Cancer

Treatment for testicular cancer will depend on the stage of the cancer, which refers to how much it has spread.

Surgery: The first step in testicular cancer treatment is to remove the testicle through an incision in the groin.

Further surgery to remove any affected lymph nodes may also be required.

Surgery can also remove tumors from the liver or lungs if they have not disappeared following chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy: High-dose X-rays used to kill cancer cells. Radiation is occasionally used after surgery to prevent the tumor from returning.

Ethos adaptive radiotherapy: An advanced, innovative cancer treatment approach that tailors radiation therapy to each patient’s unique needs. The treatment is transforming cancer care and improving outcomes for patients with testicular cancer.

Chemotherapy: Drugs are given to kill cancer cells. There are many different types of chemotherapy, but they all act to stop cancer cells from reproducing so they cannot spread within the body. Appropriate chemotherapy has dramatically improved survival rates after surgery.