Procedures for Higher Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Cure Rates

If you have been diagnosed with testicular cancer or a germ cell tumor, you should know that these conditions have one of the highest cure rates among all cancers. Cells within the testicles can develop into testicular cancer or germ cell tumors and are very treatable. At University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, we customize your treatment to include cutting-edge procedures that will have the least impact on your body.

The type and stage of your cancer as well as your overall health and preferences will determine how your testicular cancer will be treated. One or a few of these conventional treatments may be used to treat your condition:

• Chemotherapy: The purpose of chemotherapy is to kill testicular cancer cells with drugs.
• Lymph node removal: In this type of testicular cancer treatment, the cancerous lymph nodes are removed through an incision in your abdomen.
• Radiation therapy: If you have a type of testicular cancer called seminoma, radiation therapy may be used to kill your cancer cells with high-energy waves.
• Testicle removal: Surgery to remove your testicle and replace it with a prosthetic may be recommended.
• Stem cell transplant: Primarily for recurring testicular cancer, stem cell transplant is a viable treatment option to replace diseased stem cells with healthy new replacement cells.

Access to Stem Cell Transplant for Testicular Cancer and Innovative Therapies

Although the majority of patients with testicular cancer are cured with conventional treatments, some may experience a recurrence of their cancer.

If your testicular cancer has returned after it has been successfully treated, a stem cell transplant procedure may be a viable treatment option.

Unlike conventional treatments which focus on the destruction of the majority of the cancer-specific cells from your body, a stem cell transplant can destroy every possible trace of cancerous cells.

If our team determines that a stem cell transplant is right for you, it will be autologous, meaning your own stem cells will be harvested and stored before the high dose of chemotherapy. With an autologous stem cell transplant for testicular cancer, your risk of complications is reduced because your body will not reject the transplanted stem cells.

UH Seidman Cancer Center is home to one of the most advanced stem cell transplant programs in the nation. We have an entire transplant team that will guide you through every step of the transplant process. We will help you understand stem cell transplant benefits and possible side effects.

In addition, we offer clinical trials that can give you access to new treatments and interventions that may effectively treat testicular cancer before they are widely available.