Introduction: In this thesis we reviewed the literature from the area of testicular prostheses for cancer patients. With the help of numerous professional articles we more specifically investigated certain topics in this area. We addressed the problems of how common and curable is testicular cancer, at what age are men most susceptible to the disease, what are the possible solutions and the effect on patient's self-image, sexuality and overall quality of life. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is the importance and impact of testicular prostheses in cancer patients, on their quality of life. Methods: The descriptive method was used to write this thesis. The search for literature was conducted mostly in English, with the help of PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct databases. The literature search took place from September, 2019 to March, 2020. Results: We came to the conclusion that orchiectomy and insertion of a testicular prosthesis are a safe surgical procedure that is worth proposing to all candidates with indications for this type of prosthesis. Complications are rare. Users are very much generally satisfied with testicular prostheses, both after short-term use and after a long period. Testicular prostheses have a positive effect on a person's self-esteem and mental health, as they restore patients natural appearance. Dissatisfaction with firmness of the prosthesis compared to the natural testis was most common among users of testicular prostheses, followed by dissatisfaction with the difference in size and position in the scrotum. Discussion and conclusion: Orchiectomy has a strong psychological impression and influence on men’s self-esteem. Testicular prostheses have a positive effect on the mental health of patients who choose to insert them. More research into the production of testicular prostheses would be needed to make them softer in structure and thus more similar to the natural testis.
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