Orchidectomy Health Dictionary

This is literally de?ned as ‘deprivation of the power of generation’. In practical terms this involves surgical removal of both OVARIES, or both testicles (see TESTICLE). Such an operation is most commonly associated with the treatment of malignant lesions. In women who have reached the menopause, bilateral oophorectomy is routinely performed during HYSTERECTOMY, especially in cases of uterine carcinoma, and is usually performed when removing an ovarian tumour or malignant cyst. It is essential that the surgeon discusses with a woman before an operation when it might prove bene?cial to remove her ovaries in addition to carrying out the main procedure. In men, orchidectomy is routine for testicular tumours, and is sometimes carried out when treating prostatic cancer.... castration

Adeno-carcinoma. A hormone-related tumour in elderly men. Enlargement of the gland may be benign or carcinomatous. Fibrosis (hardening) may arise from inflammation. Obstruction of the outlet of the bladder through swelling of the gland (prostatism) may cause uraemia.

Symptoms. Bladder irritability; increased frequency during the night. Feeble forked stream of urine. Sometimes blood. Three quarters of such tumours are located in the posterior lobe of the prostate gland – readily accessible to the examining finger through the front wall of the rectum. Rectal examination reveals a hard rugged prostate. Cystoscopy confirms. Bone pains in the low back or pelvis reflect a stage where the tumour has already spread. Anaemia, weight loss, urgency.

All symptoms are worse by alcohol and spicy foods.

Harvard University scientists report: heavy consumption of animal fat, especially the fat in red meat appears to increase the chance that a man will develop advanced prostate cancer.

Of therapeutic value. Comfrey, Echinacea, Horsetail, Poke root, Thuja, Cornsilk, Goldenseal.

Tea. Combination. Comfrey leaves, Horsetail, Cornsilk. Equal parts. 2-3 teaspoons to each cup boiling water. Drink freely.

Formula No. 1. Echinacea 2; Comfrey 1; Poke root half; Thuja half. Mix. Dose: Powders: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon). Liquid extracts: 1 teaspoon. Tinctures: 2 teaspoons. Thrice daily in water or cup of Cornsilk tea.

Formula No. 2. (Alternative) Echinacea 2; Goldenseal 1; Gotu Kola 1; Poke root half. Mix. Dose: Powders: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon). Liquid extracts: 1 teaspoon. Tinctures: 2 teaspoons in water or cup of Cornsilk tea.

Bee pollen. Of value.

Garlic. Of value.

Diet. See: DIET – CANCER.

There is a very low incidence of prostate cancer in countries where Soya products are widely consumed – Soya contains a female hormone which is a protector factor.

Supplements. Morning and evening.

Vitamin A 7500iu or more. Large doses may be required. Vitamin C 1-2g. Vitamin E 200iu. Calcium 500mg. Selenium 100mcg. Zinc.

Study. Men with prostate cancer may not need to undergo radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate gland). A 10-year follow-up study of men with early prostate cancer left untreated showed that 10 years later only 8.5 per cent of the 223 patients had died from prostate cancer. The survival rate of 86.8 per cent in the untreated group was nearly identical to a subgroup who met all the conditions for radical prostatectomy. (Journal of American Medical Association, 22/29 April 1992)

Commonly treated with female sex hormone or by orchidectomy.

It would appear that surgical removal of the gland offers little benefit, and possibly a disadvantage to patients wishing to leave well alone, particularly the elderly. Treatment by a general medical practitioner or oncologist. ... cancer – prostate gland

The presence of only one testis. The most probable causes are surgery (see orchidectomy) and congenital absence of the testis.... monorchism

A cancerous growth in the prostate gland, of unknown cause. One of the most common cancers in men, it mainly occurs in elderly men.

An enlarged prostate (see prostate, enlarged) may cause symptoms including difficulty in starting to pass urine, poor urine flow, and increased frequency of urination. Urine flow may eventually cease altogether. When there are no urinary symptoms, the first sign may be pain in the bones from secondary cancers. Screening tests detect blood levels of a protein called prostate specific antigen;

if above a certain level, it may indicate prostate cancer.

Rectal examination allows a doctor to assess the size and hardness of the gland.

Ultrasound scanning and a biopsy confirm the diagnosis.

Blood tests and a bone scan (see radionuclide scanning) may also be done.

In an elderly man with a small prostate cancer that has not spread, no treatment may be recommended.

For younger men, prostatectomy or radiotherapy may be performed.

Widespread disease is usually controllable for some years with orchidectomy or drugs.... prostate, cancer of

A rare, cancerous tumour of the testis. Testicular cancer is most common in young to middle-aged men, and the risk increases in individuals with a history of undescended testis (see testis, undescended). The most common types of testicular cancer are seminomas, which are made up of only 1 type of cell, and teratomas. The cancer usually appears as a firm, painless swelling of 1 testis. There may also be pain and inflammation. Biopsy, followed by orchidectomy, is the usual treatment, and may be combined with chemotherapy. The tumours usually respond well to treatment.... testis, cancer of

n. a malignant tumour of the testis, appearing as a swelling, often painless, in the scrotum. It tends to occur in an older age group than the *teratomas. The treatment for localized disease is surgery involving removal of the testis (see orchidectomy). Secondary tumours in the lungs can be treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy to the draining lymph nodes. A similar tumour occurs in the ovary (see dysgerminoma).... seminoma

Twisting of the spermatic cord that causes severe pain and swelling of the testis. The pain develops rapidly and is sometimes accompanied by abdominal pain and nausea. The testis becomes swollen and very tender, and the skin of the scrotum becomes discoloured. Unless the torsion is treated within a few hours, permanent damage to the testis results. The condition is most common around puberty. It is more likely to occur if the testis is unusually mobile within the scrotum.

Diagnosis is by physical examination.

Surgery is performed to untwist the testis and anchor it in the scrotum with small stitches to prevent recurrence.

If irreversible damage has occurred, orchidectomy is performed.

In either case, the other testis is anchored to the scrotum to prevent torsion on that side.

With prompt treatment, recovery of the testis is complete.... testis, torsion of

n. a tumour composed of a number of tissues that are not usually found at that site and are derived from all three embryonic *germ layers. Teratomas most frequently occur in the testis and ovary (see dermoid cyst), possibly derived from remnants of embryonic cells that have the ability to differentiate into many types of tissue; in most malignant teratomas, cells from all three *germ layers are present. Malignant teratoma of the testis is found in young men: it is more common in patients with a history of undescended testis. Like *seminoma, it frequently occurs as a painless swelling of one testis (pain is not a good indication that the swelling is benign). Treatment is by *orchidectomy avoiding an incision into the scrotum. The tumour can spread to lymph nodes, lungs, and bone, treatment of which may involve the use of chemotherapy drugs, such as vinblastine, bleomycin, cisplatin, and etoposide, with a high cure rate even in metastatic disease.

Teratomas often produce *alpha-fetoprotein, beta human chorionic gonadotrophin, or both; the presence of these substances (*tumour markers) in the blood is a useful indication of the amount of tumour and the effect of treatment.... teratoma