Before your operation for testicular cancer

Pre assessment clinic

Your pre assessment appointment prepares you for your operation. This usually happens in the 2 weeks before your surgery.

At your appointment the pre assessment team may:

• ask you questions about your health and any medicines you are taking

• tell you when to stop eating and drinking before your operation

• tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before the operation

• check your weight, blood pressure, pulse and temperature

• ask what help and support you have at home

The pre assessment team will tell you how to prepare for your operation. What you need to do and the length of your hospital stay depends on what operation you are having.

They may also give you a leaflet about breathing and leg exercises to do after your operation. This is to help prevent chest infections and blood clots.

It helps to write down any questions you have and take them with you. The more you know about what will happen, the less frightening it will seem. You can ask more questions when you go into hospital so don’t worry if you forget to ask some.

Who you might meet before your operation

You usually meet several members of your healthcare team. They all have an important role in your care.

Nurse or healthcare assistant

They will check your:

• general health

• weight

• blood pressure and pulse

• temperature

The nurse asks you questions to check your fitness for the operation. They can organise any further tests you might need. They ask about any medicines you are taking and give you information about what to expect when you come into hospital for the operation.

They also check what help and support you have to see what you will need when you go home.

The anaesthetist

The anaesthetist gives you the anaesthetic and they look after you during the operation. The anaesthetic is the medicine that keeps you asleep during your operation. They make sure you’re fit enough for the surgery.

The clinical nurse specialist (CNS)

Your clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is a qualified nurse who has specialist knowledge of testicular cancer. They help to organise care between doctors and the other health professionals you need to see. They also support you through your treatment, and make sure you have the information you need to understand your cancer and treatment. 

The surgeon

A member of the surgical team will tell you about:

• the operation you are going to have

• the benefits of having surgery

• the possible risks

• what to expect afterwards

They'll also ask you to sign a consent form to agree to the operation, once they know you understand what's involved. 

The physiotherapist

The physiotherapist assesses how well you can move around. They let the doctors know if there is anything that could affect your recovery.

The physiotherapist also teaches you leg and breathing exercises to do after your operation to help with recovery. Learning how to do the exercises beforehand makes it easier afterwards.

Tests before your operation

You have tests before your operation to check:

• you are well enough to have an operation and anaesthetic

• that you’ll make a good recovery from surgery

The tests you have depend on what operation you are having and any other health conditions you have. You might have some or all of the following tests:

• blood tests to check the level of ​blood cells​ and how well your kidneys are working

• a swab test to rule out some infections

• an ​ECG​ (electrocardiogram) or ​echo (echocardiogram) to check that your heart is healthy - some people might have both

• breathing tests (called lung function tests)

• a chest x-ray to check that your lungs are healthy

• a ​cardiopulmonary exercise test​ 

The pre operative assessment team will explain what these tests are for and how to prepare for them. You might have these tests as part of your pre operative assessment appointment. Sometimes you have them at a separate appointment.

Find out what happens on the day of your operation

Learning breathing and leg exercises

Breathing exercises help to stop you from getting a chest infection after surgery. If you smoke, it helps if you can stop at least a few weeks before your operation.

Leg exercises help to stop blood clots forming in your legs. You might also have medicines to stop the blood from clotting. You have them as small injections under the skin.

You start the injections after your operation. You might also wear anti embolism stockings or have pumps on your calves to help the circulation.

Your nurse and physiotherapist will get you up out of bed quite quickly after your surgery. This is to help prevent chest infections and blood clots forming.

This 3-minute video shows you how to do the breathing and leg exercises.

Going into hospital

You’ll probably go into hospital on the day of your operation.

What to take with you

Take in:

• pyjamas

• underwear

• dressing gown

• slippers

• contact lenses, solution, glasses and a case

• wash bag – flannel, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap

• razor

• towel

• small amount of money

• medicines you normally take

• magazines, books

• headphones and music to listen to

• a tablet or smartphone for web browsing, entertainment and phone calls

Time in hospital

The length of your stay depends on the type of operation you have and your recovery.

After surgery to remove your testicle, you can usually go home later that day. But might need to stay in hospital overnight.

After surgery to remove lymph nodes from your stomach, you will need to stay in hospital longer. Your surgeon will tell you more about this.

Family and friends

Before you go into hospital, it might be worth checking:

• whether the ward is allowing visitors

• if they have set visiting times

• the best number for friends and family to phone, to find out how you are

The letter you receive before your operation may contain this information. But if not, you can phone the ward or hospital reception to find out.

You can use your mobile phone in hospital. But there may be some time before and after your operation when you won’t have your mobile nearby. And you may not feel like talking.

Before you go into hospital

It’s worth sorting out a few things before you go into hospital. These might include:

• taking time off work

• care for children or other loved ones

• care for your pets

• care for your house

• cancelling your milk, newspapers or food deliveries

Find out more about surgery for testicular cancer