Testicular Cancer and Sterility

[lrb508]

Hey guys -

I just found out that one of my closest guy friends has testicular cancer. They found it during a routine physical and already he has undergone surgery to remove his left testicle (where they found it) and will soon be going through chemotherapy to clear it from surrounding lymph nodes.

I didn't want to ask him this question, but I wanted to know: While I know that with one testicle, guys can still produce plenty of semen, is the radiation/chemo in the area likely to make him sterile? Or will he be able to have kids in the future?

I don't know if this is the right forum for this, but I'm really worried about him and this issue, because I know he wants kids.

[Thresher_V]

He will still be able too. A friend of mine only has one and he has 2 kids now. The gun still fire even if the chamber is half empty.

[sera300]

Originally Posted by lrb508

Hey guys -

I just found out that one of my closest guy friends has testicular cancer. They found it during a routine physical and already he has undergone surgery to remove his left testicle (where they found it) and will soon be going through chemotherapy to clear it from surrounding lymph nodes.

I didn't want to ask him this question, but I wanted to know: While I know that with one testicle, guys can still produce plenty of semen, is the radiation/chemo in the area likely to make him sterile? Or will he be able to have kids in the future?

I don't know if this is the right forum for this, but I'm really worried about him and this issue, because I know he wants kids.

Physically? His doc can most likely answer. But yes, most cases he can. If it's in the Nodes? His health may be more of the issue regarding WANTING to have kids.

Keep him focused on his health and being well...off kids.

[lrb508]

I didn't mean to make it sounds like I'm not worried about the cancer. Fortunately, as he says, it's "the good kind," with a 98% survival rate - higher than pneumonia. I don't think that the cancer has spread to his lymph nodes - only that he will be undergoing radiation treatment in that area as a cautionary measure.

Thanks for the help!

[sera300]

Originally Posted by lrb508

I didn't mean to make it sounds like I'm not worried about the cancer. Fortunately, as he says, it's "the good kind," with a 98% survival rate - higher than pneumonia. I don't think that the cancer has spread to his lymph nodes - only that he will be undergoing radiation treatment in that area as a cautionary measure.

Thanks for the help!

That's good news. When you said treatment for the nodes; I thought the tracers came back positive...If just one testicle is involved? I know a few who have undergone same at a very young age (20's) & have had no issue with having kids. Getting through all the chemo & radiation? He's going to need you as his friend; he is fortunate. And if he is single; uhmmm...no women do not care about "one" missing. Men have a process where they get hung up on that! Sort of like when I had a tumor removed...I did not care until later. I swore every man could see the scar on the breast tissue. No one did unless I pointed it out! Nor did they care.

So hopefully he feels better soon! Keep his spirits up!