Does testicle removal surgery treat testicular cancer?

An orchidectomy removes a testicle through an incision in the groin, usually with the spermatic cord. The removed tissue is examined to confirm the cancer type and features. For many people, this is the first major treatment and may be enough for some early cancers. Further care depends on the examination result and whether cancer is found outside the testicle; options can include monitoring, chemotherapy, radiotherapy for selected tumour types, or additional surgery.

Before surgery, ask about fertility preservation because treatment can affect sperm production and future fertility. Discuss whether a testicular prosthesis is available if that matters to you. Afterward, follow wound-care and activity instructions, use prescribed pain relief, and attend appointments to review the tissue result. Recovery commonly includes temporary groin discomfort, swelling, and limits on strenuous activity; your surgical team will give personal guidance.

Contact the surgical team for worsening pain, increasing redness or drainage, wound separation, fever, or swelling that does not settle. Seek urgent help for heavy bleeding, sudden severe swelling, chest pain, or breathing difficulty. Keep follow-up appointments even if the wound feels well, because the tissue result guides the next care decision.

What will the tissue examination tell us? Do I need sperm banking before surgery? What follow-up tests or scans are planned? Would a prosthesis be suitable for me? When can I return to work, exercise, and sexual activity?