Alternative and Complementary Treatments for Testicular Cancer

This page has been part of the TCRC for a very long time, but it was never intended to be a guide to "alternative" cures for testicular cancer. There is an important distinction here. Complementary treatments are used along with standard medical care. Alternative treatments are used instead of it.

Some complementary approaches can be useful. Acupuncture, massage, meditation, mindfulness, exercise and other supportive approaches may help some people deal with symptoms, stress or treatment side effects. That is very different from claiming that any of them can cure testicular cancer.

Why this matters so much with testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is one of the most curable solid cancers. When it is found early, removing the testicle may be the only active treatment needed, followed by surveillance. Even when the disease has spread, many patients can still be cured with established treatment, most often cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

That is why delaying diagnosis or treatment to pursue an unproven remedy can be especially costly. A cancer that might have required only surgery and surveillance can grow or spread and require considerably more treatment. In more advanced disease, unnecessary delay can also make successful treatment harder.

Be skeptical of cancer "cures"

The internet, social media, online marketplaces and even books can make unsupported cancer claims look convincing. Be particularly cautious when someone:

• claims a product, diet or treatment can cure cancer without good clinical evidence;
• says it works better than chemotherapy or other established treatment;
• says doctors, drug companies or the government are hiding the cure;
• relies heavily on testimonials instead of published evidence;
• uses words such as "miracle," "detox," "secret" or "natural cure" as proof that it works;
• asks you to postpone or stop standard treatment while you try it; or
• is selling the product or program while also supplying most of the evidence for it.

Special diets, herbs, vitamins and supplements deserve the same caution. "Natural" does not automatically mean safe, and some supplements can interfere with chemotherapy, anesthesia or other medications.

If you want to use complementary care

Keep your medical team in the loop. Tell them about any supplements, herbs, diets or other treatments you are using or considering. This matters even when the treatment seems harmless.

If you want help with symptoms, stress, nutrition or treatment side effects, it is reasonable to ask whether your cancer center has an integrative medicine or supportive care program. If you see an outside practitioner, look for someone appropriately licensed or credentialed who is willing to communicate with your oncology team and who does not claim to replace proven cancer treatment.

Reliable information

• National Cancer Institute: Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Explains the difference between complementary, alternative and integrative medicine and reviews evidence for many approaches.
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cancer and Complementary Health Approaches - Discusses potential benefits, limitations, interactions and safety issues.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Illegally Sold Cancer Treatments - Describes warning signs and examples of products illegally marketed as cancer treatments.

The bottom line is simple: use proven treatment to treat the cancer. If a complementary approach makes treatment easier, improves how you feel or helps you cope, discuss it with your medical team and use it for that purpose.