Partial orchiectomy? Does that exist?

[LordOfChaos]

Hi!!

I had an radical orchiectomy of my right testicle 4 weeks ago.
It was a T2 seminoma.
Next week I think I will start radiotherapy...
I'm feeling pai in the other testicle and I'm very worried about that. (I made a scan on it before the sugery and they told me it was everything ok with it) If some kind of cancer developed during the last month, is it possible to remove only the afected part of the testicle? I mean, the last thing in world I would like is to lose both testicles... I had also read something about using Carboplatin in this kind of situation (removing only part of a testicle). Does anyone know anything about this? Thank You, Francisco

[huckchef]

Welcome to the forum! i had a partial done when i had my first I/O. i had tumors in both testicals. my right testical was 96% tumor and i had a small tumor on the left. it was in a position(top right corner) that allowed a partial to be done. knowing then what i know now, i would have just had the whole thing removed and saved me the trouble of another surgery because it was basically worthless. after the surgery and radiation it was of no use and i decided to go ahead and remove it and the remaining testical was staged pre-cancerous when biopsy was done on it. so i definitly made the right choice by removing it. with that said the chances are very rare that you will develope cancer in the other testical. it could happen but very unlikely. my opinion if it does is to just remove the whole testical. best of luck with your surveillance! my thoughts and prayers, brian!

[LordOfChaos]

wow... That's no very good news...

... but you seem to be quite well psycologically... Do you feel as before? You have sexual desire? What are the biggest diferences you find in yourself? They've put me one prothesis in the right testicle and it is hurting me in the other testicle, that's why I'm so worried... Thank You very much for your reply... Hope everything stays ok with you.... And I'm sorry for my Inglish... It's very rusty

[huckchef]

i couldn't be better!!!! i have no problems with sexual functions. i use a hormone replacement called androgel. most testicular cancer survivors will need some form of hormone replacement therapy. are you using any? i never even questioned having prostetics put in because i'm married i guess. if i was younger, maybe, but i doubt it. i've always thought of myself in a great way and this doesn't really change the way i feel so i didn't. i have no problems now that i'm using HRT but before i was very moody, depressed, gain weight, loss muscle mass to just name a few. and now things are pretty much normal. hope this helps!

[LordOfChaos]

hmmm...

Hi!! No, I didn´t even checked the testoterone levels... But i will do that! I have some strange mood changes and maybe that's the reason! Today doctors told me that problably the pain in my testicles is due to the operation and also because the prothesis is not already in the right place... To tell you the truth I was so worried about other aspects of this problem, that i didn't thought much about the prothesis... I just ask them if they usualy put the prothesis, they told me "yes" and that was it... No more questions asked... I just find out that not everybody likes the prothesis afterwards... Anyway i will do one ecography tomorrow on my on (in a private clinic, paying for it) just to be in peace of mind. So you feel exactlyu the same as before on what concerns to sex, whith the only diference that you have orgasms without semen? Everything else is the same as before? The way you feeel desire, everything?! Thank you for the suport!! It's helping a lot

[BeachTech]

( Anyway i will do one ecography tomorrow on my on (in a private clinic, paying for it) just to be in peace of mind.

I wouldn't waste the money. You said the RO was just four weeks ago and they did a scan right before that. If they scanned you about four weeks ago and you are clear, it's very unlikely that there is anything on the other testicle after four weeks. Also, it might be very painful, particularly if the private place does not understand your history (so soon after a RO). If you are 100% determined to do this on your own, talk to your doctor first.

After the RO, I also felt pain in my other testicle about 3-4 weeks post RO. I "freaked out" just like you. I asked my doctor and he told me to wear more supportive underwear. I wore a jock strap for about three weeks and I was fine afterwards.

So you feel exactlyu the same as before on what concerns to sex, whith the only diference that you have orgasms without semen?

Um, I'll let huckchef (or any other TCx2 survivor) answer this, but I think you're incorrect. A TCx2 survivor with no remaining testicle would be able to have an orgasm with semen, it's just the semen would not contain any sperm. Semen is just the transport mechanism (which is made outside the testicles), and I don't think you would see any difference when you orgasm.

This is why when a man is not able to get his wife pregnant, they need to do a sperm analysis. If a sterile man is a man that didn't produce anything upon ejaculation, then the lab test would be unnecessary.
________
Red head girl live

[huckchef]

thats correct......you still produce semen it just doesn't contain sperm. semen is secretions made from seven lower urinary tract structures known as : epididymis, vas deferens, ampullae of the vas, seminal vesicle, prostate, Cowper's glands and glands of Littre. Semen is a protectant from the secretions of the vagina which are there to destroy sperm once ejaculated. this is why your sperm "clumps" and then breaks down to a watery solution just seconds after an ejaculation. the clumping is a temporary defense!!!

[LordOfChaos]

Ok!! Thank you very much for the support! I've just made a scan (Ecography) this morning and it's everything alright with the other testicle... The only problem now is that I just can't sleeep laying down in bed... the prothesis hurts the other testicle... So I think I will be sleeping seated in my sofa for a few days to see what happens!!! (I think in the end I will have to get read of the prothesis... )