Testicular cancers tend to affect younger men — about half occur between ages 20 and 34. But testicular cancer is also one of the most curable cancers, meaning men often live long, fulfilling lives after treatment.
At the Abramson Cancer Center, we offer the latest technologies that not only cure cancers — they reduce the risk of testicular cancer treatment side effects that affect your quality of life. Proton therapy is one of these advanced tools.
What Is Proton Therapy for Testicular Cancer?
Proton radiation therapy is a highly accurate form of radiation therapy, a noninvasive treatment that uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. Proton therapy uses positively charged atoms called protons.
Because doctors have tight control over proton beams, they can closely target cancer cells and protect healthy tissues. Learn more about proton therapy.
Benefits of Proton Radiation for Stage 2 Testicular Cancers
The first treatment for testicular cancer is usually surgery to remove the affected testicle. But if the cancer has spread beyond the testicle, your doctor may recommend radiation.
Stage 2 testicular cancers have spread beyond the testicle to at least one lymph node. Proton therapy is particularly suited for stage 2 testicular cancers because it:
- Reduces long-term testicular cancer treatment side effects: Long-term treatment side effects can appear decades after cancer treatment. Proton therapy delivers lower, more precise doses of radiation while avoiding healthy cells. It can reduce the radiation dose to healthy surrounding tissues by 50 to 70 percent. This precision may lead to fewer or milder long-term side effects, such as the development of a second cancer as you age.
- Lowers radiation exposure: When you get radiation for testicular cancer, doctors direct the radiation beams at lymph nodes in the abdomen (belly) — not the testicles. The treatment area is one of the largest among all cancers treated with radiation. Because it’s so large, there is a risk of radiation exposure to tissues around the belly and pelvis. Proton therapy eliminates this risk.
- Treats affected lymph nodes: Testicular cancer-affected lymph nodes run along the center of the body. The more central the cancer is, the better it is for proton therapy.
Testicular Cancer Proton Therapy at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center
You receive proton radiation therapy treatments in the Roberts Proton Therapy Center. With five treatment rooms, the Roberts Proton Therapy Center is one of the largest centers in the world of its kind.
Because our radiation program is so large, our radiation oncologists all specialize in treating specific areas of the body with proton therapy. A radiation oncologist who subspecializes in genitourinary cancers like testicular cancer directs your treatment. This exceptional expertise means better results for you now and years to come.
Learn more about the world-class care we offer in the Roberts Proton Therapy Center.
Make an Appointment
Please call 800-789-7366 or request a callback.