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Can Radiotherapy for Testicular Cancer Cause Other Cancers Later?

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Can Radiotherapy for Testicular Cancer Cause Other Cancers Later?

Testicular cancer, especially seminoma, is often treated successfully. In some cases, doctors use radiotherapy (RT) after surgery. But this treatment can come with a long-term risk: second primary cancers (SPCs) that may appear many years later.

A new review looked at decades of research on this topic. It focused on how changes in radiotherapy methods have affected the risk of developing new cancers in organs like the pancreas, kidneys, stomach, bladder, and colon.

The good news is that treatment has improved. In the past, larger areas of the body were exposed to radiation, but today doctors use smaller, more targeted fields. For many men with early-stage seminoma, radiation is no longer used at allβ€”instead, they are monitored closely after surgery.

For men who still need radiation (like those with higher-risk cancer), newer options may offer better safety. Studies show that proton therapyβ€”a newer type of radiationβ€”can reduce exposure to healthy organs compared to traditional photon therapy.

While radiation is still a useful tool in treating seminoma, doctors are now more aware of its long-term risks. The goal is to treat the cancer effectively while protecting the rest of the body as much as possible.

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dr swati shah - uro & gynec cancer surgeon
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