Testicular
Cancer at a Glance
- A type of cancer that occurs in men’s testicles
- Young men are most at risk
- Early diagnosis can save your life.
Even
though testicular cancer is not very common, it is a serious concern for young
men. It is the most common cancer among men aged 20–34. But if testicular
cancer is found and treated early, it is usually curable.
Whether
you think you may have testicular cancer, or are a concerned friend, family
member, or partner, you may have many questions. Here are the answers to some
questions people commonly ask about testicular cancer.
What Is Testicular Cancer?
The testicles are two ball-like glands inside the
scrotum. They produce sperm and hormones. They are also called testes.
Testicular cancer develops if abnormal cells in one or both of the testes grow uncontrollably.
Early detection is very important. Treatment is very effective and there is a high cure rate. If untreated or detected late, it can spread to other parts of the body — and it may cause death.
Testicular cancer develops if abnormal cells in one or both of the testes grow uncontrollably.
Early detection is very important. Treatment is very effective and there is a high cure rate. If untreated or detected late, it can spread to other parts of the body — and it may cause death.
How Common Is Testicular Cancer?
About 8,000 men are diagnosed with testicular
cancer each year in the U.S. About 400 men die from it every year. One out of
every 100 cancers in men develops in the testes. The rate of testicular cancer
has been increasing —experts have not been able to find reasons for the
increase.
Who Is Most at Risk for
Testicular Cancer?
Young men are most at risk — most cases occur in
men 15–39. It is the most common cancer among men 20–34. Only nine percent of
men with testicular cancer are older than 50.
White men are at the greatest risk of getting testicular cancer. They are 5–10 times more likely to get it than African men.
Other factors increase the risk of developing testicular cancer:
White men are at the greatest risk of getting testicular cancer. They are 5–10 times more likely to get it than African men.
Other factors increase the risk of developing testicular cancer:
- cryptorchidism — having a testicle that did not descend into the scrotum
- a family history of testicular cancer
- HIV
- Klinefelter's syndrome — a genetic condition that causes underdeveloped testicles and other problems
- having previously had testicular cancer
How Do I Protect Myself from
Testicular Cancer?
It is recommended that you have your testicles
examined by a health care provider during your periodic checkups. Ask your
health care provider how often you should have checkups. Men with risk factors
for testicular cancer may be advised to have more frequent exams.
What Are the Symptoms of
Testicular Cancer?
The most common symptom is a lump or a swelling in
a testicle. Lumps can be as small as a pea. Swellings can feel like irregular
thickening on a testicle. Symptoms are often painless. Some may cause
discomfort.
Other symptoms may include
Other symptoms may include
- ache or pain in the back, groin, lower abdomen, or scrotum
- a change in the usual size or feel of the testicle
- a sensation of heaviness in the scrotum or bloating in the lower abdomen
A rare type of testicular cancer can cause a man's
body to produce the female hormone estrogen. In addition to other signs of
testicular cancer, this type may cause a loss of sex drive or tenderness,
swelling, or lumps in the area around the nipples.
Less serious conditions may also cause any of these
symptoms. But you should still report any symptoms to your health care provider
as soon as possible.
Don't let fear prevent you from seeking care. Only
a health care provider can diagnose or rule out cancer. And the sooner cancer
is diagnosed and treated, the less likely it is to spread to other parts of
your body.
How Is Testicular Cancer
Diagnosed?
Health care providers examine the testicles with
their hands and use other tests to either diagnose or rule out cancer.
- Blood tests measure certain proteins and enzymes that are put out by cancerous tumors.
- Ultrasound scans use sound waves, instead of x-rays, to produce an image of internal tissues. They can locate and determine the size of a mass in the testicle. Ultrasound is a very safe procedure. An ultrasound is also called a sonogram.
Surgery is the only way to find out for sure if
there is cancer. But it is only performed after other tests show cancer may be
present and a health care provider is confident that there is cancer. Usually,
the entire testicle is removed and tested. (One testicle can make enough
hormones to maintain a man’s masculinity, beard, voice, sex drive, etc.)
Rarely, only a biopsy — removal of a small piece of the testicle for testing — is performed. Biopsy is usually only done if a man only has one testicle. Otherwise, health care providers avoid biopsy because testicular cancer is more likely to spread during biopsy than some other cancers.
Rarely, only a biopsy — removal of a small piece of the testicle for testing — is performed. Biopsy is usually only done if a man only has one testicle. Otherwise, health care providers avoid biopsy because testicular cancer is more likely to spread during biopsy than some other cancers.
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Testicular Self-Exam
6.
Move your penis out of the way and look at your testicles
in a mirror. Check for any swelling or bumps. Make sure that each of your
testicles is about the same size as the other. It is normal for one to be
slightly larger than the other.
7.
Hold one testicle with your index and middle
fingers underneath and your thumb on top. The testicle is normally oval,
smooth, and firm.
§ Feel for lumps by rolling it
gently between your thumb and fingers. Note any changes in size, shape, or
feel.
§ Check out the epididymis — a
soft, tightly coiled tube in which sperm mature — along the top and back of
each testicle. It may feel a little bumpier than the testicle.
§ Also feel the spaghetti-like
tube called the vas deferens that goes up from the epididymis. It should feel
like a smooth cord.
Knowing how all these parts feel will help keep
you from confusing them with cancerous lumps.
8.
Repeat the exam on your other testicle.
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What Are the Treatments for
Testicular Cancer?
Surgery is the most likely treatment. Chemotherapy
and/or radiation therapy are often used as follow-up to the surgery. Treatment
is extremely effective — especially when the cancer is treated early. Your health
care provider may run more tests to determine which treatments are right for
you. Talk with your health care provider about your options, and be honest
about your concerns. Make a list of questions you would like to ask at each
appointment. You also may find it helpful to seek a second opinion from another
specialist when deciding the best treatment for you.
Will Treatment for Testicular
Cancer Affect My Sexuality?
Nearly all — 99 percent — of men with testicular
cancer have it only in one testicle. After treatment, the remaining testicle
produces all the needed hormones that affect masculinity, beard, voice, sex
drive, etc. And removal of a testicle does not affect the ability to have an
erection.
Some men may have a problem if they worry about their sexual performance based on their appearance. They may feel uncomfortable about the look or feel of their scrotum. They may choose to have an artificial testicle — a prosthesis — put in the scrotum. Discuss this option with your health care provider if you are worried about how you will appear and feel.
The one percent of men with cancer in both testicles may take testosterone to maintain their sex drives and masculine attributes.
Some men may have a problem if they worry about their sexual performance based on their appearance. They may feel uncomfortable about the look or feel of their scrotum. They may choose to have an artificial testicle — a prosthesis — put in the scrotum. Discuss this option with your health care provider if you are worried about how you will appear and feel.
The one percent of men with cancer in both testicles may take testosterone to maintain their sex drives and masculine attributes.
Will Treatment for Testicular
Cancer Affect My Fertility?
Certain treatments may temporarily or permanently
reduce fertility. If you would like to have children biologically after
treatment, talk with your health care provider. You may choose a treatment that
is less likely to affect your fertility long-term. Or you may store some sperm
in a sperm bank before treatment to use in the future to impregnate your
partner if you do have fertility problems after treatment
Love Dr Tango
2AD2AA05 Phone number - 08188958718
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