Orchiectomy Used by Top Urology Doctors to Treat Prostate Cancer
The Urology Specialists of Maryland at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, diagnose and treat a variety of conditions and diseases of the male reproductive organs. Our doctors use orchiectomy as a treatment to relieve symptoms associated with prostate cancer.
What is Orchiectomy?
An orchiectomy is a procedure to remove one or both testicles of the male reproductive system. If both are removed, it is sometimes referred to as castration as the man is no longer able to reproduce.
An orchiectomy is performed as a treatment option to help relieve symptoms of advanced prostate cancer or to prolong cancer survivorship. The surgery does not cure prostate cancer, but it causes the tumor to shrink and can relieve bone pain.
How is an Orchiectomy performed?
In an orchiectomy, the penis and the scrotum, the pouch of skin that holds the testicles, are left intact and only the testicle(s) is affected. There are several types of orchiectomy, including:
- Simple orchiectomy in which the testicle or testicles and parts of the spermatic cord are removed.
- Subcapsular orchiectomy which is similar to a simple orchiectomy but glandular tissue is removed from the lining of each testicle rather than removing the entire gland. This helps the patient keep the look of a normal scrotum.
- Radical orchiectomy is conducted to address testicular cancer. The doctor removes the spermatic cord and testicle(s).
The doctors of The Urology Specialists of Maryland will help patients determine what type of orchiectomy is best for your conditions.
Who should receive an Orchiectomy?
Patients who are in advanced stages of prostate cancer are candidates for orchiectomies. An orchiectomy lowers the testosterone hormone in men which prostate cancer needs to grow and spread.