How Germ Cell Cancer Is Treated - Options and Success Rates

Treatment Options for Germ Cell Cancer Explained

If you have been diagnosed with germ cell cancer, understanding your treatment options is essential. Germ cell cancer is a type of tumour that begins in your reproductive cells. While it can occur in the testes or ovaries, it may also appear in other body parts, such as the chest or abdomen. Knowing the treatment options for germ cell cancer and what influences it is essential. So, keep reading.

What Influences Your Treatment Plan for Germ Cell Cancer?

Doctors will decide the type of treatment you get based on various factors such as:

• Type of Tumour: Seminoma and non-seminoma are two types of germ cell cancer. Treatment depends on this.
• Tumour Location: The tumour can be present anywhere in the body. Doctors determine the location and proceed accordingly.
• Cancer Stage: It refers to how far the cancer has spread.
• Tumour Markers: They are substances in your blood that indicate cancer activity. Doctors take it into consideration when planning a treatment course.
• Overall Medical History: Your overall health plays an important part in treatment.
   

A multidisciplinary team will typically oversee your treatment, including oncologists, surgeons, and radiologists.

What are the main treatment options for germ cell cancer?

Your healthcare provider can recommend the following treatment options for germ cell cancer:

Surgery: Surgery is the primary step in treating germ cell cancer, especially when the tumour is located in the testicle or ovary. However, for metastatic disease, the sequence is often reversed: chemotherapy is the primary step to treat widespread disease, followed by surgery to remove residual masses. Surgery could include the following:
 

1. Orchiectomy: For men, doctors remove the affected testicle along with the tumour through inguinal orchiectomy.
2. Oophorectomy: For women, doctors often remove the affected ovary through a process called oophorectomy. The procedure is also known as ovariectomy.
3. Lymph Node Dissection: Also known as lymphadenectomy, it involves removing nearby lymph nodes and examining them for cancer cells. This can ensure that the cancer has not spread.
    

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout your body. It can treat both seminoma and non-seminoma germ cell cancer. Doctors usually recommend chemotherapy if the germ cell has metastasised (spread). It can also help destroy cancer cells that surgery could not kill. Additionally, chemotherapy is the primary treatment for metastatic germ cell cancer. It is also used as an adjuvant (preventive) treatment after surgery for some early-stage non-seminomatous tumours to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

The most widely used combination for chemotherapy is BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin). Your doctor may adjust the number of cycles based on your cancer stage and response to treatment.

Chemotherapy may cause short-term side effects such as nausea and fatigue, which often improve after treatment. However, some drugs-especially cisplatin-can also lead to long-term or permanent effects like neuropathy, hearing changes, or fertility issues. Your doctor will discuss these risks before treatment.

Radiation Therapy: Doctors may recommend External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) for certain stages of seminoma-type germ cell tumours, which are highly sensitive to it. Internal radiation therapy is not used for this cancer.
 

This treatment involves targeting high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells, usually over several sessions. You may experience side effects such as skin irritation, fatigue, and mild digestive issues. However, they improve once the treatment ends.

Monitoring and Follow-Up for Germ Cell Cancer

After treatment, you will need regular follow-up appointments to monitor tumour marker levels and check for signs of recurrence through scans. Therefore, multiple post-treatment visits are necessary. It will help you manage any long-term side effects of treatment and ensure that the cancer does not return.

Germ cell cancers have high cure rates, especially when detected early. Even metastatic testicular germ cell tumours respond well to chemotherapy, with cure rates exceeding 80–90% according to NCCN and NCI data.

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