Many men with testicular cancer receive their diagnosis at a time when they are considering starting a family or if they feel a lump in their testicle.
Your testicles are an important part of your reproductive system. The doctors at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center care about your life after testicular cancer. We offer men advanced testicular cancer treatment and fertility preservation options.
The type of cancer you have might affect what symptoms you develop. Not all men with testicular cancer experience symptoms. Those who do might notice:
A lump or swelling in the testicle
Pain in the testicle
Breast growth or soreness
Early puberty
Signs that cancer has spread from the testicle to other parts of your body include:
Chest pain
Cough
Headaches or confusion
Low back or belly pain
Shortness of breath
Weight loss
Night sweats
Diagnosing testicular cancer
To diagnose testicular cancer, your doctor will ask about symptoms. They will also perform a physical exam, feeling for swelling or lumps. Other tests for testicular cancer include:
Blood tests
Imaging tests
We offer a range of options, including fertility preservation and clinical trials. Standard testicular cancer treatments include:
Chemotherapy
Surgical removal of the testicle (partial or total)
Surgical removal of lymph nodes (retroperitoneal lymph node dissection)
Robotic surgery: We offer robotic removal of lymph nodes for patients that are good candidates for this approach. This approach is beneficial as it avoids larger incisions and lead to faster recovery, shorter hospital stay, less pain and more.
Sperm banking
If you have testicular cancer, you may be worried about how it will affect your ability to have children. UW Health's Generations Fertility Care offers fertility preservation, giving people with cancer the chance to conceive a child after treatment.
The team offers sperm banking, also called sperm cryopreservation. During this procedure, sperm is removed from the testicle and frozen for later use.
Treatment through clinical research
If you have testicular cancer, a clinical trial might be an option. Clinical trials give you access to new treatments or medical devices. Learn more
Testicular cancer is a type of genitourinary cancer. If you have testicular cancer, you will meet with experts including urologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists.
Cancer care at locations convenient to you.
A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. There are many resources and support groups to help you through diagnosis, treatment and beyond.
Meets the third Thursday of each month at 4:30 p.m. UW Health Urology, 1 S. Park St., Madison. For more information, call (608) 287-2900.
Meets the third Thursday of each month at 4:30 p.m. Gilda’s Club, 7907 UW Health Ct., Middleton. For more information email program@gildassclubmadison.org.
Meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. Gilda’s Club, 7907 UW Health Ct, Middleton. For more information email program@gildassclubmadison.org.
UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center
The experts at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center intimately understand every type of cancer. We will get to know you and design a treatment plan that works for you and your family.