A pathologist then examines the nodes to see whether they contain cancer cells. For patients with nonseminoma, removing the nodes can cure many patients and help stop the spread of their disease in others. Seminoma patients do not need this surgery, if the disease is limited, because cancer cells in their lymph nodes can be destroyed with radiation therapy. If the patient has a lot of cancer in the abdomen, chest, or brain, then chemotherapy is given first. The patients usually receives radiation therapy as an outpatient.
Seminomas are highly sensitive to radiation.
Following inguinal orchiectomy, men with seminomas generally have radiation therapy to their abdominal lymph nodes. We work with a team of radiation oncologist in a multi-specialty setting to assure the patient receives the best care and follow up. The use of drugs to treat cancer is called chemotherapy. Anticancer drugs are recommended when there are signs that the cancer has spread. The drugs that have been so successful in treating testicular cancer usually contain a drug called cis-platinum.