Radiation therapy for testicular cancer
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells.
Some people with testicular cancer have radiation therapy. Your healthcare team will use what they know about the cancer and about your health to plan the type and amount of radiation, and when and how it is given.
You may have radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells left behind after surgery or chemotherapy (called adjuvant therapy) to reduce the risk that the cancer will come back.
External radiation therapy
During external radiation therapy, a machine directs radiation through the skin to the tumour and some of the tissue around it. External radiation therapy is also called external beam radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy works best for seminomas. Non-seminomas do not respond as well to radiation therapy. Doctors are more likely to offer radiation therapy if there is a higher risk of the cancer coming back, such as when the primary tumour is large or cancer has spread to the back of the abdomen (the retroperitoneum).
External radiation therapy may be used for stage 1 and stage 2 seminomas after surgery to remove the testicle (called a radical inguinal orchiectomy, or an orchiectomy). Radiation is directed at the lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen. Sometimes it is also directed at the lymph nodes in the pelvis. The healthy testicle is protected from the radiation by a shield. Radiation therapy may also be used to treat stage 3 seminoma that has spread to the brain.
Side effects
During radiation therapy, your healthcare team protects healthy cells in the treatment area as much as possible. Side effects of radiation therapy will depend mainly on the size of the area being treated, the specific area or organs being treated, the total dose of radiation and the treatment schedule. Tell your healthcare team if you have side effects that you think are from radiation therapy. The sooner you tell them of any problems, the sooner they can suggest ways to help you deal with them.
These are common side effects of radiation therapy for testicular cancer:
- fatigue
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea
- stomach ulcers
- skin problems
- fertility problems
- sexual problems, including erectile dysfunction
- low blood cell counts
- heart damage
-
a
second cancer
Find out more about radiation therapy
Find out more about radiation therapy and side effects of radiation therapy. To make the decisions that are right for you, ask your healthcare team questions about radiation therapy.
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