Testicular Cancer Care in New Jersey
Cancer in the testicles happens when cells become abnormal, turn into cancer and form tumors. The testicles, or testes, are the male sex glands that produce sperm and testosterone and are found behind the penis in a pouch of skin called the scrotum.
Our goal when treating testicular cancer is to cure your cancer while preserving your fertility and sexual function. The urologists at Hackensack Meridian Health use the latest techniques to diagnose the exact stage and type of your testicular cancer. We then develop a treatment plan tailored to your lifestyle needs.
If you need surgery, we offer the region’s most advanced robotic surgery for testicular cancer. Our surgeons are among the few in the U.S. who perform robotic RPLND (retroperitoneal lymph node dissection) to minimize muscle and nerve damage. Our robotic approaches offer outstanding outcomes with a faster recovery and return to normal activities.
Testicular Cancer Symptoms
You should perform a regular self exam to check for changes in your testicles or scrotum. Talk to your doctor or see a urologist if you have any of the following symptoms, which may be a sign of cancer or another urology condition:- Painless lump or firm mass in a testicle
- Swelling of the scrotum or testicle, with or without pain
- Feeling of weight or heaviness in the scrotum
- Pain in the testicle or scrotum
- Dull ache in the abdomen or groin
- Changes to the male breast tissue, including tenderness
Diagnosing Testicular Cancer
Most testicular cancer secretes proteins called biomarkers. Testicular cancer sometimes can be detected by testing your blood. A high level of a biomarker in your blood doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer, but can help doctors make a diagnosis. We test for three biomarkers for testicular cancer:
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein)
- Beta hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
- Testicular LDH (lactate dehydrogenase)
Find a Testicular Cancer Specialist or Care Location
Testicular Cancer Treatment Options
Robotic and Minimally Invasive Testicular Cancer Surgery
The urologists at Hackensack Meridian Health are recognized worldwide as leaders in robotic surgery. We are highly experienced in robotic and minimally invasive surgeries for testicular cancer
If it spreads, testicular cancer takes a predictable route through lymph nodes in the back of your abdomen. Your care team may recommend surgery to remove these lymph nodes.
The surgery (called RPLND) once required a large midline incision and lengthy hospital stay. Our urologists are among the few in the country who perform robotic RPLND using only one small incision. This approach will help preserve your ability to have an erection and minimizes damage to nerves involved with ejaculation.
Hackensack University Medical Center was among the first hospitals in the world — and the first in New Jersey — to use the da Vinci SP® single-port robotic surgery system for urologic surgeries. Compared to traditional surgery, single-port robotic surgery for testicular cancer offers:
- One incision, and less tissue damage
- Increased precision and flexibility for complex surgeries
- Decreased blood loss, reduced need for transfusions, and less risk of infection
- Less pain after surgery
- Smaller external and internal scars
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster recovery and return to normal activities
Other Treatments for Testicular Cancer
When it comes to treating testicular cancer, your care team will recommend the most effective treatment for your cancer while preserving as much of your function as possible. We collaborate with specialists across John Theurer Cancer Center on state-of-the-art treatments.
If you are concerned about how your cancer treatment may affect your ability to have children in the future, you and your urologist may discuss sperm retrieval and preservation. Hackensack Meridian Health offers urologists who specialize in male reproductive medicine.
Urological Expertise in New Jersey
The Department of Urology at Hackensack University Medical Center, a nationally ranked program by U.S. News & World Report, is renowned for its high-quality urologic care, including excellence in research and clinical outcomes.
- Ranked #17 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
- Hackensack University Medical Center has been ranked the best Urology Program in New Jersey for eleven years in a row by U.S. News & World Report and ranked in the Top 20 nationally
- 6 subspecialties with fellowship-trained urologists
- 2 Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care Certifications in prostate cancer and kidney cancer
- 6 consecutive Magnet designations by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence