For most people, the cancer experience doesn’t end on the last day of treatment. Life after cancer treatment can present its own challenges. You may have mixed feelings when treatment ends, and worry that every ache and pain means the cancer is coming back.
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Overview
Some people say that they feel pressure to return to “normal life”. It is important to allow yourself time to adjust to the physical and emotional changes, and establish a new daily routine at your own pace. Your family and friends may also need time to adjust.
Cancer Council 13 11 20 can help you connect with other people who have had testicular cancer, and provide you with information about the emotional and practical aspects of living well after cancer.
For more on this, see Living well after cancer.
Follow-up appointments
After your treatment ends, you will have regular appointments to monitor your health, manage any long-term side effects and check that the cancer hasn’t come back. Active surveillance for testicular cancer usually continues for 5–10 years.
During the check-ups, you will usually have a physical examination and you may have blood tests to monitor tumour markers, x-rays or scans.
It is important to go to your follow-up appointments, as tests can find any return of the cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Regularly looking at and feeling your remaining testicle to know what’s normal can also help find cancer in that testicle early. If you develop any symptoms or health problems between follow-up appointments, let your doctor know immediately.
Find information on living well after cancer in Arabic, Greek, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.
Dealing with feelings of sadness
If you have continued feelings of sadness, have trouble getting up in the morning or have lost motivation to do things that previously gave you pleasure, you may be experiencing depression. This is quite common among people who have had cancer.
Talk to your GP, because counselling or medication – even for a short time – may help. Some people can get a Medicare rebate for sessions with a psychologist. Cancer Council may also run a counselling program in your area.
For information about coping with depression and anxiety, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36. For 24-hour crisis support, call Lifeline 13 11 14.
The Thing About Cancer podcast
Listen to our podcast The Thing About Cancer for information and insights that can help you navigate through the challenges of living with cancer.
Looking after yourself
Cancer can cause physical and emotional strain, so it’s important to look after your wellbeing. Cancer Council has free booklets and programs to help you during and after treatment.
Call 13 11 20 to find out more, or see Managing cancer side effects, Exercise after a cancer diagnosis, Complementary therapies, Emotions and cancer, Nutrition and cancer, Sexuality, intimacy and cancer, Fertility and cancer, LGBTQI+ people and cancer, and Practical concerns.
Alternative therapies are therapies used instead of conventional medical treatments. These are unlikely to be scientifically tested, may prevent successful treatment of the cancer and can be harmful. Cancer Council does not recommend the use of alternative therapies as a cancer treatment.
What if testicular cancer returns?
Treatment for testicular cancer usually has a good outcome and most people will be cured, even if the cancer has spread. Only about 2–5% of people who have had cancer in one testicle get cancer in the other testicle.
Sometimes testicular cancer does come back after treatment. This is why active surveillance is important. Treatment will depend on where it has spread to and what type of testicular cancer it is. People with cancer that comes back may have surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of treatments.
Watch this video to see why eating well is so important after a cancer diagnosis, and what you can do to maintain a healthy diet.
Research shows that exercise benefits people with cancer during and after treatment. Find out more in this video or see our other exercise videos.
More resources
A/Prof Peter Grimison, Medical Oncologist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW; Marc Diocera, Genitourinary Nurse Consultant, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; A/Prof Peter Heathcote, Urologist, Brisbane Urology Clinic, QLD; Dr Michael Huo, Radiation Oncologist, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD; A/Prof Joseph McKendrick, Medical Oncologist, Epworth Eastern Hospital, VIC; Dr Tonia Mezzini, Sexual Health Physician, East Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SA; Dominic Oen, Clinical Psychologist, Bankstown Cancer Centre, NSW; Dr Benjamin Thomas, Urological Surgeon, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and The University of Melbourne, VIC; Paul Zawa, Consumer.
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