My Husband had testicular cancer 2 years ago, how likely is it that he will be able to have a baby?

Question

2 years ago my husband discovered he had testicular cancer, he had the t******l removed and went thru 2 courses of chemo, each course lasting 3 weeks (ie first week an inpatient stay on 2 days for chemo, then 2nd and 3rd week, outpatient, 15 mins of chemo). How likely is it that his sperm level will be normal again. He did get the chance to freeze a certain amount before chemo started although it was after the t******l was removed, It was recorded then that his count was low but was advised this could be as a result of the cancer. We do have a date for his s***n to be tested, though they did tell us it could take up to 6 months to get receive another appointment with the fertility clinic to get the results.

Answer 1

Cancer research reports that 70% of men who have had chemo for testicular cancer have fathered children.

It can take a bit of time for the sperm count to recover after chemo.

I really wish you both good luck.

Answer 2

Obviously nobody here can answer this because nobody knows the details of your husband's individual case.

All you can do is wait for those test results.

My father had testicular cancer as a young man; he had the affected t******e removed, and he had radiotherapy but not chemo.

He went on to father three more children and died 47 years later of something unconnected to cancer.

Answer 3

Hi, this isn't really something that can be tackled on YA as we are not privy to your husbands medical notes; you really would have to wait and see what the tests reveal and then take it from there. It would be unfair to suggest either way. I know the waiting times must be a pain.

The cancer could well have caused his sperm count to be low, with that said even after having testicular cancer, it is as the above answerer said, perfectly possible to still have children.

Answer 4

Testicular cancer begins as a scrotal mass, which is usually not painful. Diagnosis is by ultrasonography. Treatment is with orchiectomy and sometimes lymph node dissection, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination, depending on histology and stage.

While it may be possible, in some cases, to remove testicular cancer tumors from a testis while leaving the testis functional, this is almost never done, as more than 95% of testicular tumors are malignant. Since only one testis is typically required to maintain fertility, hormone production, and other male functions, the afflicted testis is almost always removed completely in a procedure called inguinal orchiectomy. (The t******e is almost never removed through the s*****m; an incision is made beneath the belt line in the inguinal area.) Most notably, since removing the tumor alone does not eliminate the precancerous cells that exist in the testis, it is usually better in the long run to remove the entire testis to prevent another tumor. A plausible exception could be in the case of the second testis later developing cancer as well.

A man with one remaining testis can lead a normal life, because the remaining testis takes up the burden of testosterone production and will generally have adequate fertility. However, it is worth the (minor) expense of measuring hormone levels before removal of a t******e, and sperm banking may be appropriate for younger men who still plan to have children, since fertility may be lessened by removal of one t******e, and can be severely affected if extensive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy is done.

Less than five percent of those who have testicular cancer will have it again in the remaining testis. A man who loses both testicles will normally have to take hormone supplements (in particular, testosterone, which is created in the testicles), and will be infertile, but can lead an otherwise normal life.

If both testicles are removed, the man becomes infertile (unable to have children) because no sperm cells will be produced. If surgery is done to remove lymph nodes, there can be damage to nerves that control ejaculation. This can also cause infertility as well as impotence. There is a newer type of surgery that has a better chance of preserving the nerves that maintain erection while still removing the lymph nodes.

Since testicular cancer affects men at the ages they may want to father children, nerve-sparing surgery and sperm banking (to save sperm and freeze it for use in artificial insemination) before any treatment should be discussed with the doctor.

Please note that I am not a medical professional.

Answer 5

well if his sperm count was low to begin with, then I suspect that will not change... your odds are not good.

Answer 6

It is perfectly possibled for him to sire a child after testicular cancer and loss of one t******e. Jimmy White managed it.

Millwall striker Neil Harris also managed to father a child after testicular cancer.