Testicular Cancer Treatment Program

Overview

The Claire & John Bertucci Center for Genitourinary Cancers is one of the largest and most experienced centers in New England for the diagnosis and treatment of testicular cancer.

Innovative Approaches

Our specialists use advanced approaches to diagnose and treat testicular cancer. Many of these approaches were developed at the Mass General Cancer Center, and may include:

• Specialized pathology to quickly and accurately determine cancer type and stage
• New imaging technology to more accurately determine if cancer has spread
• Minimally invasive techniques that help lessen post-operative discomfort and recovery time

Multidisciplinary Patient Care

New patients are generally seen within a week of referral. In keeping with your needs and wishes, we will develop your individually tailored treatment plan, monitor your care, and communicate regularly with you and your referring physician about your progress. At your first appointment, you will meet the genitourinary cancer specialists who will be involved in your care, including:

• Urologists and surgical oncologists experienced in the latest testicular cancer surgery approaches
• Radiation oncologists who specialize in delivering the optimal therapeutic dose while protecting healthy tissue
• Medical oncologists to discuss overall prognosis and review the available treatment approaches

In addition, you may also see:

• Pathologists specializing in urologic cancers
• Radiologists specializing in genitourinary cancer imaging
• Oncology nurses and nurse practitioners who specialize in cancer care
• Oncology psychiatrists and social workers experienced in helping with the cognitive side effects of cancer and treatment, as well the emotional and spiritual side of the cancer experience
• A nutritionist to help you with questions about diet and nutrition during treatment

Expertise in Diagnosing and Staging Cancers

Exact diagnosis and staging are critical to finding the right treatment for your cancer. Our team includes highly sub-specialized pathologists who work exclusively with genitourinary cancers. They look for tumor markers that can help pinpoint prognosis (outlook) and treatment approach. This translates into quick, accurate staging of genitourinary cancers – the foundation of an appropriate treatment plan.

Our diagnostic experts are aided by advanced methods for diagnosing and staging testicular cancer, particularly new MRI techniques, including diffusion-weighted MRI, which more accurately detect cancer cells. In clinical trials, nanoparticle-enhanced MRI (developed at the Mass General Cancer Center) has shown promise for detecting cancerous lymph nodes that traditional biopsy methods may miss.

Excellence in Surgical Care

We perform a large number of testicular cancer diagnostic and treatment procedures annually. Studies have shown patients do better when they are treated in a facility that cares for a high number of patients with the same form of cancer. Other notable aspects of having genitourinary cancer surgery here include:

• Sub-specialized genitourinary surgical oncologists
• Minimally invasive approaches
• Intraoperative radiation, which delivers radiation to the surgical area once a tumor has been removed and while the patient is still under sedation
• Stem cell transplantation

Pioneering Radiation Therapies

Our radiation oncologists use the most advanced imaging techniques and delivery technology. Care is taken to not only target the affected tissues with precision but also to deliver the lowest possible radiation dose to the healthy normal tissues.

Learn more about radiation therapy.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies of new drugs, new combinations of drugs or already approved drugs being studied to treat patients in new and different ways. They may include new drug doses or new ways (schedules) to give the drugs. Clinical trials are run under strict guidelines. Their purpose is to help find out whether new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard (current) treatment. At Mass General Cancer Center, there are several clinical trials open for the treatment of testicular cancer that use the latest in cancer treatments.

Cancer is increasingly becoming a disease in which the genetic make-up of each individual cancer drives therapy. The Center for Genitourinary Cancers also has access to clinical trials involving these targeted therapy approaches.

Search clinical trials at the Mass General Cancer Center.