This is when you’re given anti-cancer drugs to destroy the cancer cells. You might be given chemo after the op where your testicle’s removed. It’s given to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back - this is called adjuvant chemo. Chemo is also given to destroy cancer cells that have already spread outside the testicle, and if the cancer comes back.
Occasionally chemo is given first if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Then the operation to remove the testicle is done later.
Before your chemo starts your doctor will talk to you about storing some of your sperm. This is called sperm banking.
how is chemo given?
Chemo is given into a vein (intravenously) as injections or drips. You’ll usually have this through a fine tube called a cannula. Occasionally some guys have it through a line into a vein in the chest (called a central line), or through a line into the arm (PICC line) that leads into a vein in the chest. Find out more about how chemo is given here.
The amount of chemo you have depends on whether the cancer has spread outside the testicle or not. If it hasn’t spread, you’ll usually have two cycles (sessions) of chemo. If it has spread outside the testicle, or if it comes back during surveillance (monitoring), you’ll usually have 3-4 cycles of chemo.
which drugs will I be given?
The drugs most often used to treat testicular cancer are cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin. Giving these drugs together is called BEP.
Chemo is given in cycles of treatment. A cycle usually takes three weeks. You’ll usually spend 3-5 days each week having your chemo as a day patient, or you might need to stay in hospital overnight. After this you’ll come back to the clinic for another injection of chemo once a week, then you’ll usually have no chemo for the last week of each cycle.
If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, or if it isn’t going away completely with BEP, then different chemotherapy drugs can be given.
side effects
Different chemo drugs cause different side effects. Some guys just have a few side effects and others have more. It's hard to know how it's going to be for you, as everyone’s different.
Most side effects are short-term (temporary) and gradually disappear once treatment stops. The most common temporary side effects are hair loss, tiredness, sickness (which can be controlled) and being more at risk of getting an infection.
There’s lots more information in the chemotherapy section and the deal with it section.
Sometimes side effects can be long-term. For example, although chemo usually only affects fertility short-term, sometimes it’s permanent. But you’ll usually have stored your sperm before treatment starts - see our fertility section.
There may be other late effects of treatment and your specialist can talk to you about this.
