Treatments for prostate and testicular cancers

The main goal of Movember is to raise awareness for the three biggest killers of men: testicular cancer, prostate cancer and suicide. We have spent November looking at the first two – including infographics of signs and symptoms of both.

Regularly checking your testicles, and watching out for changes to your urine or semen is important for anyone with those body parts. Equally as important, though, is getting checked out if you do notice anything.

We get it – going to the doctor is scary, and having your prostate examined isn’t the most riveting activity, but it is so, so important. Diagnosing any cancer early is the best way to give yourself a great chance of successful treatment.

They are similar in some ways, but treatments vary between all cancers. So, here are the diagnosis and treatment routes you might experience if you do notice symptoms for either prostate or testicular cancer.

Prostate Cancer Diagnosis 

If you notice symptoms of prostate cancer, the first test is likely to be a digital rectal exam. This involves a doctor inserting their finger into your anus, which can be uncomfortable but only lasts a few seconds.

If a rectal exam confirms the possibility of prostate cancer, a biopsy will be performed next. A biopsy involves using a microscope to test a small amount of tissue from the prostate for cancer.

If cancer is confirmed, a biopsy can also determine the stage that it is in – and the best course of treatment according to that.

Prostate cancer diagnosis involves a biopsy and a digital rectal exam.

Prostate Cancer Treatments

Depending on your age and the severity of your cancer, different treatment options might be recommended. The most common treatment for many cancers – prostate included – is surgery.

The main goal of surgery is to remove the cancerous cells and prevent them from spreading, but it is also the time that an accurate severity rating can be made. Surgery for prostate cancer often involves removing the whole prostate, which can cause impotence and incontinence as side effects.

For older adults, who are unlikely to live long enough to experience negative effects from their cancer, there is the option to monitor it using watchful waiting. This may be preferable if the side effects of treatment are likely to impact your life more than cancer itself.

Unlike most cancers, chemotherapy is rarely used to treat prostate cancer that is contained within the prostate. Radiotherapy, however, is sometimes used along with hormone therapy to reduce the release of testosterone.

Prostate cancer treatment involves watchful waiting and hormone therapy paired with radiotherapy.

Testicular Cancer Diagnosis

Testicular cancer is diagnosed using ultrasound. The testicles are easier to access than the prostate, so the diagnostic process is generally less invasive. Blood tests for tumour markers associated with testicular cancer are also conducted if the ultrasound results are positive.

As with many cancers, an official diagnosis and grading can only be done after surgery. Unlike other cancers, however, a biopsy is not possible as it can cause testicular cancer to spread. That means you may not know how aggressive your cancer is until after you have had it removed.

Testicular cancer diagnosis involves surgy and ultrasound.

Testicular Cancer Treatments

Surgical removal of one or both testicles is the most common treatment. If the cancer is in stage 1 when you have surgery, surgery might be enough to treat it completely. That is why we want you to know the signs and symptoms and spot them early.

If the cancer has spread, other invasive treatments will probably be needed too. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy might be recommended if the cancer has spread to other internal organs – your doctor and oncologist will decide what’s best for you after surgery is completed.

Testicular cancer treatment involves surgery only.

How Movember helps fight male cancers

As Movember draws to an end, and you finally get to wave goodbye to Mo’s far and wide, don’t forget the reason you grew it. If you haven’t already, get to know your body. If you have loved ones with testicles and a prostate – make sure they know how to check themselves regularly.

It could save their life.

Felicity Thompson

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