How to Deal With Testicular Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Your diagnosis of testicular cancer has led you to be treated for this disease that affects the testes, or testicles. Depending on the stage of your cancer, you may have been treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of all or some of these treatments. Following your treatment, you may experience side effects. Although it is not necessarily easy to deal with treatment side effects, many of them may be managed from the comfort of your home.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Begin by discussing your treatment plan with your doctor. Many men with testicular cancer have a family history of the disease. Depending on the severity of your case, you may have to undergo a course of treatment that varies from that experienced by other members of your family.

2. Keep pain at bay by staying on top of pain medication dosages. Communicate with your doctor about any pain you are feeling and its severity. Pain medications are more effective when they are used before pain gets out of hand.

3. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids if you are suffering from a side effect such as vomiting. Signs of dehydration include, but are not limited to, dry mouth, thick saliva, infrequent urination and dark yellow urine.

4. Get plenty of rest. Fatigue is a common side effect of testicular cancer treatment, particular toward the end of a treatment cycle.

5. Eat a healthy diet. Though nausea and loss of appetite may affect your desire to eat, you must eat as well as possible to conserve your strength and prevent weight loss.

6. Follow up after treatment by scheduling and keeping the appointments your doctor recommends to make sure that the cancer has not recurred. Be aware that you may need to be more vigilant about self-care after cancer treatment.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your doctor or nurse about what side effects you might expect following your treatment. Find out whether your doctor might prescribe medications to reduce or eliminate many of these side effects.
• As a patient, you are entitled to care delivered in a considerate, respectful and nondiscriminatory manner.
• Many men suffer from body image issues following a diagnosis and treatment of testicular cancer. Discuss your feelings and concerns openly with your partner. Seek the assistance of a mental health professional to help you deal with this life-changing disease if you feel overwhelmed or overly depressed.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.