Anadolu Medical Center
Diagnostic Tests for Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is a malignant tumor which develops from tissues of testicle located in scrotum. This is quite rare disease. According to the statistics, during a year 3 men out of 100,000 people are diagnosed testicular cancer.
To conduct an effective treatment, it is necessary to establish a precise diagnosis. First of all such specialists as urologist and oncologist make an examination comprising palpation of testicles and lymph nodes.
Then it is obligatory to apply methods of visualization:
- Ultrasound;
- CT;
- X-ray;
- PET-CT;
- MRI.
These methods allow detecting peculiarities of tumor growth, metastases and their level of spread, estimate a condition of surrounding tissues.
The next step is conducting diagnostic tests on specific tumor markers. In case of non-seminoma type of tumor alpha-fetoprotein is detected.
Testicular Cancer Treatment
Treatment of testicular cancer always starts with a removal of affected testicle (this type of surgery is called orchiectomy). A further treatment tactics depends on histological characteristics of tumor, stage of cancer and level of tumor markers in blood.
In case of seminoma testicular tumor at stage 1 and 2, surgery is conducted together with radiation therapy and removal of lymph nodes of abdominal cavity. At the stage 3 and 4 seminoma testicular cancer treatment includes chemotherapy.
At initial stages seminoma tumor is successfully treated in 95% of cases.
Non-seminoma testicular tumors are less sensitive to radiation therapy. If a patient has non-seminoma testicular cancer stage 1 and 2 after an orchiectomy such methods are applied:
- surgical removal of affected lymph nodes of abdominal cavity (lymphadenectomy)
- chemotherapy.
Cost of testicular cancer treatment depends on the stage of disease, level of metastatic spread, the country and hospital where a patient prefers to undergo treatment.
Cost of Surgery (Orchiectomy)
The cost of orchiectomy usually depends on such factors:
- quantity of testicles which are going to be removed - one or two (bilateral orchiectomy);
- country where surgery is going to be conducted;
- professionalism of treating doctor.
Cost of Prosthetic Testicles
Treatment of testicular cancer always supposes a removal of one or two testicles. But an absence of this organ can cause a discomfort in men, that is why best hospitals worldwide suggest making prosthetic testicles. Price of this procedure depends on the material of implant and the medical center where this operation is going to be conducted.
Usually prosthetic testicles are made of hypoallergenic silicone. Implant recreates a shape of the removed organ, so a prosthetic testicle will look like a natural one. Cost of this procedure is calculated individually.
An operation is conducted under general or local anesthesia. It lasts 30-40 minutes. Hospitalization is not necessary for this kind of surgery.