Unilateral Inguinal Orchiectomy

[AtomicMush]

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!

[mrt]

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!

[onlyoptionleft]

Good luck with the Surgery!!!!

[Yman]

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!

[SplitDik]

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.

[mrt]

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.

[Yman]

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.

[Caith721]

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.

[mrt]

Really? Thats news to me. It makes sense.

[Wellesley]

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.

[kristoff]

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.

Actually, in most cases, pathology lab does the look see after the fact and the testicle is removed regardless of the later findings. Most surgeons don't take the chance it would be malgnant, disturb the tumor and cause further risk, and then put it back. Biopsies test a spec of tissue, not the whole tumor.

[AtomicMush]

... Anyway, I'd highly recommend storing a bunch of sperm at a sperm bank before losing even one testicle...

Sperm production is not a problem, as I had a vasectomy years ago. I believe the production of sperm and the fact it has no place to go is the cause of the mass growth. Normally the body adsorbs the sperm, but if it accumulates, the body treats it like an infection. If built up, it becomes painful. This occurrence is treated by taking antibiotics. I had this happen twice in the past. The third time is when I found the cyst.

Had the preop exam yesterday, and all signs are go for next Friday. Considered a prosthesis, but in reality, it makes no sense. For me, it's not an optical or body image factor. T level is average for my age now, and if it falls too low, there are good and bad aspects to deal with. I'll just cross that bridge when I get to it.

Now the wait beginns...

[speedvogel]

Make damned sure they know which testicle they are removing before you go under the anesthesia. A friend of mine, who was a fairly well known athlete had testicular cancer. Somehow, the OR team became confused and removed the healthy ball. The doctors were then forced to remove the diseased testicle, leaving him with, obviously, no testicles. You bet, he sued. You bet, the insurance companies did not argue, but paid him the maximum limits.

Speed

[Caith721]

Make damned sure they know which testicle they are removing before you go under the anesthesia.

No kidding. People suggest using a Sharpie permanent marker to write on their skin before surgery, precisely for this reason. Write "Remove" on the proper one and "DON'T!!" on the other.

[kristoff]

No kidding. People suggest using a Sharpie permanent marker to write on their skin before surgery, precisely for this reason. Write "Remove" on the proper one and "DON'T!!" on the other.

Many hospitals now require the surgeon to visit the patient before hand and sign the location of the surgery with a marker, in consultation with patient and nurse.

Each time I've had a surgery in the past several years, the surgeon signed off on me. Too bad he didn't sign off the bill...