A doctor or someone knowledgeable, please help.?

My fiancee had testicular cancer when he was 16-17 due to anabolic steroid use. He is now 21. Obviously he is no longer using the steroids. I'm not clear on what kind of treatment that he underwent, but he is cancer free and they told him there is practically zero chance of it coming back.

My question has to do with his fertility. We wonder about it all the time, but he is afraid to take a test because he really wants children and is afraid he will be sterile. He has all of the equipment, but one testical is significantly smaller than the other. I have no idea if that even means anything. Can someone please enlighten me about these things???

I know nothing about testicular cancer in general, but can tell you of my father's experience.

He was diagnosed at the age of 29 and had surgery removing one testicle and radiotherapy.

He went on to have three more children; his cancer never returned and he died aged 76 of something unrelated to cancer.

I know each individual's case is different, but hope this helps.

Good luck to you both.

This is another no brainer. Get the boy to the doctor and have the fertililty test done...period. And no, it does not mean anything that one of his testicles is smaller than the other. There is only one way to find out...get the test done. Avoiding it will not change the future...yours or his.

Usually the treatment is radiation or removal of the affected testicle. If he has both, but one is smaller than that one probably isn't working well if at all. However the other should be functioning just fine.
He should have no fear of being sterile, and should be tested just to help himself feel better.

First I am not a doctor, but if one tesricle is good you can get pregnant. the fertility test may show you may need a little help. if he has sperm they can fertilize the egg for you. Assure him that if you guys want children that badly. there are options now days. get the test. knowing is better that wondering. the fertility clinic can tell you ways to increase your chances of fertilization. My friend finally having a son. It took three years and a little help. Now he is so proud of his son, none of that stuff embarasses him. God bless you and keep you.

If cancer involved only one testicle then he has nothing to worry about his fertility.
I have seen many individuals with one testicle(the other one removed because of the cancer) producing babies and living a happy sexual life.
Tell him not to worry. And if he wants to end his worries, ask him to undergo the test so that worries are done with forever.

THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THE CANCER. Testicuar cancers do not spread so the chances of his testis getting involved is nil.

Go ahead and get the test done. There is nothing to worry about. Instead the test would end all ur worries and bring back a happy life.

The only definite way to know if he is sterile is to have fertility testing done. His chances of having children depends on the treatment he had. Certain types of chemotherapy tend to make people sterile and radiation therapy does the same thing. If he had the testicle removed with no further treatments he has a good chance of being able to conceive children.

He needs to have his fertility checked to make sure. He can check with his doctor where the nearest medical facility with a fertility program is located. There is also a website that can guide you or give you some ideas on what your next step should be:

Fertile Hope
http://www.fertilehope.org/

There is also a listserv email group that might be able to answer your questions.

ACOR: Fertility Issues associated with Cancer
http://listserv.acor.org/archives/cancer...

PLWC: Fertility and Cancer Treatment
http://www.plwc.org/portal/site/PLWC/men...

ACS: Fertility and Cancer: What are my Options?
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/MBC_2x...

Best to you.

Chemotherapy makes you sterile. It's likely not possible that he will ever be able to have children but if you stop and think that only ONE little sperm out of millions that come out in one ejaculation is all it takes, then in my mind I think it's all by the grace of God in what is possible or not in this world.

But drugs, including steroids, mess up the body big time. Chemotherapy is TOXIC by nature...it kills the good with the bad in many cases, and long term side effects from the chemo are anybody's guess too. There are risks for everything.

He has to have a sperm count done to know if there is any chance at all that he can bear children...even if it's a one percent chance it's better than nothing, but likely I wouldn't count on it after chemo.