Types of surgery for testicular cancer
There are different types of surgery for testicular cancer.
You have surgery to remove your testicle to diagnose your cancer. This is also your first treatment for testicular cancer. This operation is called an orchidectomy.
Your doctor might also suggest an operation to remove some lymph nodes from the back of your tummy. This operation is called a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND).
If testicular cancer has spread to your lung you might have surgery to remove the cancer from your lung.
Removing a testicle (orchidectomy)
Removing the testicle is called an orchidectomy or orchiectomy. In some men with very small tumours the surgeon removes only part of the testicle. But this is very rare. It is called a partial orchidectomy.
The surgeon makes a cut in the groin. They cut the spermatic cord to remove the testicle.
Removing lymph nodes (retroperitoneal lymph node dissection)
are found in many parts of the body. Cancer can spread to the lymph nodes and make them bigger (enlarged).
Testicular cancer can spread to the lymph nodes in the back of the tummy (abdomen). These are called the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. They are just in front of your spine.
You might need to have an operation to remove these lymph nodes. The operation is called a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. This is a large operation. You have the surgery in a specialist centre.
Removing secondary cancer in the lungs
Testicular cancer can spread to your lung. This is called secondary cancer. You might have surgery to remove the cancer from your lungs.
Your doctor might suggest this surgery if:
- there is still a sign of cancer after chemotherapy
- the cancer is thought to be resistant to chemotherapy
What to expect
This is major surgery. You have under general anaesthetic which means you are asleep for the operation.
When you wake up you have:
- a drip into your vein
- tubes coming out from your wound
- tube coming from your chest (a chest drain)
Surgery to the chest always makes the lung collapse. You have a chest drain for a few days. The tube connects to a suction bottle. It helps your lung expand (inflate) again.
The surgery might involve cutting through some ribs. This can be painful while it heals.
You can have this surgery more than once if the tumours grow back again. This will depend on how fit you are and how much treatment you want to have.
