Blog Post 2: Daily Management of Testicular Cancer

Primary Care

The greatest impact a patient can have in the management of any disease is during primary care. Primary care consists of taking preventative measures to eliminate or reduce risk factors and prevent the onset of a particular disease. This includes: getting an annual physical from a primary physician that includes an examination of the penis, testicles, prostate, vitals, blood work, and an examination of family medical history. Self examination of the testicles is usually the first step taken in the diagnosis process but can be performed by the patient. Below are guidelines for a testicular self examination provided by the American Cancer Society:

The best time to do the self-exam is during or after a bath or shower, when the skin of the scrotum is relaxed. To do a testicular self-exam: Hold your penis out of the way and check one testicle at a time. Hold the testicle between your thumbs and fingers of both hands and roll it gently between your fingers. Look and feel for any hard lumps or smooth rounded bumps or any change in the size, shape, or consistency of the testicles. For more information, please visit the American Cancer Society website

Maintaining a balanced diet is also a preventative measure that can be implemented daily to reduce the risk of testicular cancer and/or alleviate the symptoms associated with its treatment (radiation, chemotherapy, etc.) Some general dietary guidelines include:  A diet rich in fiber and low in fat, consuming a diet that includes vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, and selenium, and reducing the intake of alcohol. These vitamins are essential in the diet of someone at risk for or diagnosed with testicular cancer because a deficiency in these vitamins have been shown to increase overall health and treatment effectiveness, especially vitamin C which has been studied as a potential treatment for cancer. You can create your own meal using this infographic from the University of Texas Anderson Center:

Life Stage	Recommended Amount
Birth to 6 months	40 mg
Infants 7–12 months	50 mg
Children 1–3 years	15 mg
Children 4–8 years	25 mg
Children 9–13 years	45 mg
Teens 14–18 years (boys)	75 mg
Teens 14–18 years (girls)	65 mg
Adults (men)	90 mg

Excellent sources of Vitamin C include: organs, guava, bell papers, grape fruit, and cantaloupe

Life Stage	Recommended Amount
Birth to 6 months	4 mg (6 IU)
Infants 7–12 months	5 mg (7.5 IU)
Children 1–3 years	6 mg (9 IU)
Children 4–8 years	7 mg (10.4 IU)
Children 9–13 years	11 mg (16.4 IU)
Teens 14–18 years	15 mg (22.4 IU)
Adults	15 mg (22.4 IU)

Excellent sources of Vitamin E include: wheat germ, sunflower, corn and soybean oils, hazelnuts, and green vegetables

Table 1: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Selenium [6]
Age	Male	Female	Pregnancy	Lactation
Birth to 6 months	15 mcg*	15 mcg*
7–12 months	20 mcg*	20 mcg*
1–3 years	20 mcg	20 mcg
4–8 years	30 mcg	30 mcg
9–13 years	40 mcg	40 mcg
14–18 years	55 mcg	55 mcg	60 mcg	70 mcg
19–50 years	55 mcg	55 mcg	60 mcg	70 mcg

Excellent source of Selenium: muscle meats, grains, dairy products, fish, and poultry

Physical activity also needs to be incorporated into the daily routine of individuals with testicular cancer. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends at least 20 minutes of moderate cardio three times a week, strength training four times a week, and stretching flexibility exercises should be incorporated into both with sufficient rest time each week.

Secondary & Tertiary Care

In secondary care, screenings are implemented for the purpose of diagnostics. Following a self exam, a patient should make an appointment with a primary care physician whom will then be able to make a positive diagnosis. At this point, the patient should become informed with testicular cancer through the plethora of information available online and the past and ongoing research; and pending the results of a diagnostic exam, seek the assistance of a certified health education specialist in tailoring a health care plan for the patient.

Tertiary care consists of alleviating the pain or discomfort associated with a positive diagnosis of testicular cancer and its treatment. For day to day management, alternative and holistic approaches should be considered given the approval of a physician. Some naturopahic therapies from the Cancer Treatment Centers of America are listed below:

•  Herbal and botanical preparations, including herbal extracts and teas.
• Dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
• Homeopathic remedies, extremely low doses of plant extracts and minerals that gently strengthen the body's healing and immune response.
• Physical therapy and exercise therapy, including massage and other gentle techniques used on deep muscles and joints for therapeutic purposes.
• Hydrotherapy, which prescribes water-based approaches like hot and cold wraps, and other therapies.
• Lifestyle counseling: Many medical conditions can be treated with exercise, improved sleep, stress reduction techniques, as well as foods and nutritional supplements.
• Acupuncture: Your naturopathic oncology provider may also recommend incorporating acupuncture into your treatment plan.

Many alternative medicine enthusiast recommend yoga to alleviate some of the ailments associated with cancer and the effects of treatment. Below is a video demonstrating a simple yoga pose:

Once diagnosed and a treatment plan has been selected, it is important for a patient to have diet and fitness plans tailored to their specific needs and preferences. Grueling chemotherapy or recovery from radical inguinal orchiectomy can put limitations on diet and physical activity. An assessment should be completed to determine which programs are most suitable for you. Often, patients are fatigued and nauseous from treatment, so activity might be limited to a brisk walk or light swimming and diet would consist of liquids, soft foods, and minimal spices and peppers as to not agitate the digestive system. It is important to note that once diagnosed and treated, cancer prevention should be an ongoing task for those at risk or recovering and requires guidance, dedication, and consistency in order to live optimally.