The treatment for testicular cancer has certain complications associated with the various methods of treatment. The treatment will vary from one patient to another so not every testicular cancer patient will have the same complications or risk possibilities. Knowing the risk factors for testicular cancer can mean earlier detection, which can lessen the risk for complications.

One specific complication that most cancer treatments have in common is the complication of infertility. Infertility generally will be determined by the extent of the cancer, and which treatments is part of your treatment plan. The treatments that are most often associated with infertility are: surgery, radiation, and also chemotherapy. Surgery interferes with fertility because removing the lymph nodes may cause the male to experience difficulty-ejaculating sperm if the nerves were severed around the lymph nodes. A new technique called the “nerve-sparing technique” may be used to help reduce the risk of this complication. If surgery is required to remove both of the testicles than the male will of course, be rendered sterile. If both testicles are removed your doctor will need to prescribe testosterone replacement treatments.

The complications from having radiation are that the radiation treatments can interfere with the production of sperm, resulting in infertility. There may be the chance that the sperm count will be reduced for only a year or two following the radiation therapy. After the treated area heals, the sperm count may rise, increasing the chance for return to fertility. Other males may experience sterility after radiation treatment that will not be altered over time.

Drugs are used in chemotherapy treatment and drugs carry side effects, which includes infertility. Not all drugs will cause infertility. Speak with your doctor before chemotherapy begins to discuss this complication of chemotherapy, especially if you desire to have children. The complication of infertility should always be discussed before treatment begins so that if children are desired the prospect of using a sperm bank before treatment begins can be investigated.

The risk factors that a male may have a higher chance for testicular cancer are an important factor to know. Understanding your risk for testicular cancer will enable a male to perform self-examinations that he may not otherwise take the time to do and performing self-examinations can detect cancer earlier which means that with early cancer the male should only have to undergo surgery which reduces the risk for complications from radiation or chemotherapy.

Risk factors for testicular cancer include: having had an undescended testicle, having had an abnormal testicle development, having a family history of testicular cancer, being of the age between 15 and 34, and being a white male.

Males who are taught to recognize risk factors for testicular cancer can in fact lessen their chance for complications should they develop testicular cancer by giving them a better chance at not having to undergo radiation or chemotherapy.

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