Seminomas and nonseminomas grow and spread differently, and each type may need different treatment. Treatment also depends on the stage of the cancer, the patient's age and general health, and other factors. Men are often treated by a team of specialists, which may include a surgeon, a medical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist. Surgery to remove the testicle through an incision in the groin is called a radical inguinal orchiectomy. However, a man with one remaining healthy testicle can still have a normal erection and produce sperm.
Men can also have an artificial testicle, called a prosthesis, placed in the scrotum.
The implant has the weight and feel of a normal testicle. This type of surgery does not change a man's ability to have an erection or an orgasm, but it can cause sterility because it interferes with ejaculation. Patients may wish to talk with the doctor about the possibility of removing the lymph nodes using a special nerve-sparing surgical technique that may protect the ability to ejaculate normally. Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Seminomas are highly sensitive to radiation.