Recently, I noticed a hardness on one of my testicles, in the back. It feels like a growth on the outside of the actual teste. It is accompanied by moderate pain, especially when rubbed or handled. After two ultrasounds and a course of antibiotics, my urologist recommended a unilateral inguinal orchiectomy. The reason, the mass seemed to be a cyst or other growth, and could already be, or turn cancerous. He told me the other teste was ok, and that it would not be touched at this time. He will go in thru the abdomen, as scrotal incision could cause another path for potential cancer spread, if it indeed is gone that far. All body functions should remain unchanged, except I'll wear a smaller Speedo.

Has anyone had this done, and do you have any advice or recommendations. I am going to go through with the procedure in two weeks, and I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck!

Pat the incision after you shower (don't rub), If you feel pain use the meds they send you home with. Stay ahead of the pain curve. If you take pain meds be sure to drink lots of fluids and use Laxitive, Stool softener so you don't get plugged up. Pain meds always seem to shut that down.

If you have any thoughts about your body image get info on implants and have the surgeon put that in when they do the inguinal. Coloplast, Silimed and AART.

in reverse order of which I think are best choices.

And btw don't at all think this is dumb to have some desire to have a "pair" after surgery and don't let the "Fake Balls" people decide this for you. Its you not them.

Good luck for a quick recovery!

Good luck with the Surgery!!!!

AtomicMush (imported) wrote: Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:04 pm Has anyone had this done, and do you have any advice or recommendations. I am going to go through with the procedure in two weeks, and I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck!

I had this done for a biopsy. It takes four to six weeks to heal and some more months for sensitivity to be as before. In case of a possibly cancerous tissue it is better to have this approach, because the testicle can be removed more radical, including the cords.

Good luck!

AtomicMush (imported) wrote: Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:04 pm Recently, I noticed a hardness on one of my testicles, in the back. It feels like a growth on the outside of the actual teste. It is accompanied by moderate pain, especially when rubbed or handled. After two ultrasounds and a course of antibiotics, my urologist recommended a unilateral inguinal orchiectomy. The reason, the mass seemed to be a cyst or other growth, and could already be, or turn cancerous. He told me the other teste was ok, and that it would not be touched at this time. He will go in thru the abdomen, as scrotal incision could cause another path for potential cancer spread, if it indeed is gone that far. All body functions should remain unchanged, except I'll wear a smaller Speedo.

Has anyone had this done, and do you have any advice or recommendations. I am going to go through with the procedure in two weeks, and I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck!

Obviously if it seems abnormal, then probably best to have it cut out. However, despite a lot of people saying that one ball is as good as two, that is not entirely true. Testosterone levels do tend to drop, even though the remaining ball will try to compensate.

The main thing though is that your fertility can be severely affected. First of all you'll produce half the sperm. That is still going to be a lot, but technically it is half the sperm. If the remaining testicle has any sperm quality issues then you lose the effect of one of the balls possibly having better sperm.

Anyway, I'd highly recommend storing a bunch of sperm at a sperm bank before losing even one testicle. Not sure your situation, but even when you're older your life situation can change in ways that make you want to have more kids (you might lose a kid you already have, or meet someone that really wants to have some, or you can win the lottery and afford to have lots of kids, whatever).

Also, personally I'd get a second opinion before having any body part removed. You said that other tests were okay. I realize that most urologists happily remove one testicle even when cancer is just a possibility, but I think that is a bit lazy on their part, and again having just one isn't as good as having two.

I'm not an expert on Testes Cancer but it would be odd to do a biopsee (Spelled??) because from what I understand that is a huge factor in spreading cancer. Have it removed and be safe.

mrt (imported) wrote: Sat Apr 30, 2011 7:26 am I'm not an expert on Testes Cancer but it would be odd to do a biopsee (Spelled??) because from what I understand that is a huge factor in spreading cancer.

No risk. The tissue is being analyzed while the testicle is taken out. If cancerous, it can be removed safely, if not, it will be put back.

They'll extract it from the scrotum through the inguinal canal and set it onto a sterile field to perform the biopsy outside the body. The biopsied section will be examined immediately. At that time they will make the decision whether to ligate/cut and remove the testicle, or simply replace it.

Really? Thats news to me. It makes sense.

Fertility and testosterone are effected. Get a baseline T level before surgery. Your profile says you were born in 1948 so maybe fertility is not an issue but T might be.

The surgery is pretty simple. Pain after but only for a day or two, after that every day is better.