surgery to remove the testicle
Surgery to remove the testicle is one of the main treatments for testicular cancer. The medical name for the operation is orchidectomy. Sometimes it’s the only treatment that’s needed to cure the cancer. It’s a small op, so it can be done as a day patient or during a short stay in hospital.
You’ll probably feel shocked and scared at the thought of having this done. Your doctor and nurse will tell you more about it so that you know what to expect and feel less worried. Most guys only need surgery to remove one testicle, and they quickly make a full recovery.
The surgeon makes a small cut (incision) through your lower tummy (abdomen) in the groin on the affected side. The testicle is pushed up from the scrotum and removed through the cut in your tummy.
During the operation the surgeon can put a false testicle (testicular prosthesis) into your scrotum so that you’ll look the same as before. Your surgeon will usually explain this to you before the op, or you can ask them about it.
after the op
You'll have a small dressing where the cut was made, but this can usually be removed a day or so after the op. The stitches in the wound will dissolve by themselves over the next few months.
You'll probably feel a bit sore and you’ll be given painkillers to take regularly. Let your nurse or doctor know if they’re not controlling the pain. Wearing fitted briefs or shorts that support you and loose trousers like jogging bottoms can feel more comfortable after your op.
You’ll probably feel tired and need to take things easy for the first week or so. But you can expect to make a quick recovery after this op.
If you want to know more about what happens before and after an operation there’s lots more information in our surgery section.
fertility
Having one testicle removed - this won’t stop you having sex or being able to become a dad in the future. If your other testicle is working okay, it will produce enough of the hormone testosterone.
Having both testicles removed (which isn’t common) - if you’ve had this op, you’ll be prescribed testosterone to replace what can no longer be made by your testicles, so it won’t stop you having sex. Because you won't be making sperm, you can’t make someone pregnant through sex. But having your sperm stored before the op can help you to become a dad in the future. Check our fertility section for more information.
how will I feel?
You might find it embarrassing to talk about your private parts and feel awkward talking to doctors or your family about it.
Try not to let this put you off talking about things. It can be really helpful to let someone know how you're feeling, so that you don't bottle things up.
There’s more information in the deal with it section.
further surgery
If the lymph nodes (glands) at the back of your tummy area are still swollen after chemo, they’re usually removed with an operation. Lymph nodes are part of the body's immune system and help fight infection. The lymph nodes in the tummy are called the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, so the operation is called a 'retroperitoneal lymph node dissection'. The operation can only be done by experienced surgeons in specialist centres.
The lymph nodes might contain cells that could become cancerous in the future, so having them removed is the only certain way to find this out.
It’s quite a big operation and you might be in hospital for up to 10 days. The surgeon usually makes a cut from the top of your tummy (near your breastbone) to below your belly button. This leaves you with a long scar but it’ll gradually fade until it ends up looking like a fine line. Sometimes surgery’s also done to remove any abnormal cells in areas like the lung or the lymph nodes in the chest.
after the op
You’ll have a drip in your arm to give you fluids until you’re able to eat and drink normally. You’ll also have drainage tubes from the wound to stop any extra fluid collecting. The nurses will keep a check on the dressing over your wound and change it when needed. You’ll be given pain killers to take regularly. Your staples (like metal stitches) are removed 7-10 days after the op.
It’s quite a big op, so it might take a few months to get back to the level of fitness you had before.
fertility
This op can affect your fertility (being able to father a child), as the nerves that control the release of sperm (ejaculation) may be damaged by surgery. Surgeons use 'nerve-sparing’ techniques to try to prevent this happening. The op doesn’t usually stop you getting an erection or having an orgasm.
Before the op, your doctor will talk to you about storing sperm. Read more about this in our fertility section.
