Testicular cancer is a relatively rare disease that most typically strikes men before the age of 30. Its causes are not clearly understood, but known risk factors include late descent of the testicles during childhood, non-descending testicles, family history and other testicular abnormalities. With proper diagnosis and intervention, recovery from testicular cancer is a very common occurrence.
Initial Factors
Your chances of recovering from testicular cancer are best if the disease is caught in its early stages. The main treatment for testicular cancer is surgical removal of one or both testicles, as well as any nearby lymph nodes that are affected. Depending on the progression of your cancer at the time of surgery, you may also undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The needs of your recovery will vary according to the treatments you receive.
Recovery from Early Stage Testicular Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, if you have early stage testicular cancer, surgery may be all that is needed to address your condition. If so, your first recovery concern will be proper post-surgical healing. In the aftermath of this process, you will need to make lifelong regular visits to your oncologist (cancer specialist) to make sure that your cancer has not returned.
Recovery from Advanced Testicular Cancer
If your cancer is more advanced, you may also receive chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of these two approaches. Chemotherapy is typically a system-wide drug approach designed to fight cancer cells anywhere within your body. Unfortunately, it affects healthy parts of the body as well, with symptoms that may include heightened risk of infection, easy bruising and bleeding, hair loss, nausea, vomiting and skin sores. While many of the effects of chemotherapy fade with the end of treatment, long-term side effects may include nerve damage, or neuropathy, in your hands or feet. Recovery from chemotherapy neuropathy may require lifelong adjustments to your routine, including vigilance against injury to portions of your body with reduced feeling and sensation.
Radiation therapy typically involves focusing controls bursts of X-ray radiation at the site of your cancer. Potential side effects include redness and irritation of the skin, fatigue and infertility. While fertility sometimes returns a year or two after treatment ends, in some cases damage to your reproductive abilities is permanent. If you wish to have children in the future, you may want to consider preserving some of your semen prior to radiation treatment.
Emotional and Psychological Recovery
With proper medical treatment and regular follow-up visits to your doctor, there is a very good chance you will survive your bout with testicular cancer. However, coping with long-term after effects such as neuropathy and infertility is also a major factor in successful recovery. In order to improve your coping abilities, consider joining a support group with others in a similar situation. In addition to national resources such as the American Cancer Society, seek out local sources and organizations. You may also consider individual visits with a counselor or psychologist. To access even greater support, seek out the assistance of friends and family whenever possible.
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