Procedure
Radiation therapy (also known as radiotherapy) is used for testicular tumors, seminomas and non-seminomas, at various stages of the disease to achieve a cure together with surgery and medical oncology(adjuvant radiation therapy). Radiation therapy focuses high-energy X-rays on the tumor inside the body to specifically kill it.
In the treatment of testicular tumors, surgical removal of the tumor is the treatment of first choice in fit patients. In the case of seminoma, radiotherapy can then be carried out as an alternative to chemotherapy. In this case, the lymph node region located in the aorta and groin are specifically irradiated in order to prevent further spread of the tumor.
If a testicle could be preserved during the operation, radiotherapy of the remaining testicle may also be necessary to prevent a local relapse (a so-called recurrence).
The therapy is carried out in fractions over several treatment sessions every working day over a period of around 2-3 weeks. Spreading the radiation treatment over several weeks improves the tolerability of the treatment, which is mainly carried out on an outpatient basis and can be integrated into the patient’s private and professional life.
Radiation therapy is performed as an outpatient treatment, is non-invasive (i.e. does not require anesthesia) and can thus be easily integrated into everyday private and professional life. Close and personal support is a matter of course for us.
The Department of Radiation Oncology at the USZ uses only the most modern techniques for precise radiation treatment of testicular cancer with few side effects. They are supervised by internationally renowned experts in research and treatment: Prof. M. Guckenberger and Dr. M. Mayinger.
For many patients, we are already offering the treatment of tomorrow: we are continuously working on improving the treatment of testicular cancer in clinical trials to make it even more effective and tolerable. To the overview of currently open studies.
