Testicular
Cancer
What
is it?
Testicular cancer is a
disease caused by the uncontrolled growth of
abnormal cells in the testes, or testicles. The
two testes are located below the penis inside a
protective thin-skinned sac, called the scrotum.
The testes produce sperm and form the male
hormone testosterone.
When abnormal cells grow uncontrolled in
the testes, they create a lump or tumor. Testicular
cancer is classified as two different types,
seminomas and non-seminomas.
Who
gets it?
Testicular cancer is the most
common type of cancer in men under the age of 35,
with most cases occurring before age 30.
What
causes it?
The cause of testicular
cancer is unknown. However,
men whose testes did not descend into the scrotum
by age three are more likely to develop testicular
cancer than men whose testes did descend by that
age. Normally,
the testes move down from inside the abdomen into
the scrotum before birth.
An undescended testicle is a condition
where one or both testes remain inside the
abdomen. This
condition can be surgically corrected, but the man
still carries an increased risk of testicular
cancer. Higher
rates of testicular cancer have also been noted in
men with HIV infection.
What
are the symptoms?
Signs of testicular cancer
include a lump in either testicle, which may or
may not be painful and may cause the testes to
feel heavy. Some
types of tumors in the testes can cause a man’s
breast area to enlarge.
If the cancer has spread to other areas of
the body (metastasized), you may experience low
back pain, difficulty urinating, a persistent
cough, and difficulty breathing.
How
is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will take a
complete medical history and perform a complete
physical exam, specifically checking your testes
for lumps. An
ultrasound scan of the scrotum, abdomen, and
pelvic areas can help determine where the lump is
located and if the cancer has spread.
Your doctor may also order blood tests
because men with testicular cancer usually have
high levels of alpha-fetoprotein and human
chorionic gonadotropin.
If your symptoms include coughing and breathing difficulties,
your doctor may also want you to have a chest
x-ray.
Bone scans and x-ray of the lymphatic vessels may be ordered.
If a lump is found on either testicle, you
will receive a local anesthetic and your doctor
will take a small tissue sample (biopsy) from the
lump to confirm a diagnosis.
This procedure does not harm the testes.
What
is the treatment?
Testicular cancer is treated
by an oncologist, a cancer specialist.
The cancerous testicle will be removed
surgically. However,
the remaining testicle will provide sufficient
amounts of male hormones so you will still be able
to father children.
Following the surgery, you may need
chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs) and/or radiation
therapy to destroy any cancer cells that may have
spread. Treatment
advances have made testicular cancer curable.
In fact, the cure rate for testicular
cancer that hasn't spread is as high as 95%.
Your chances for a complete recovery depend
upon how early your cancer was diagnosed, whether
the cancer has spread, and the size and type of
the tumor. After your treatment, you will need to
have checkups on a monthly basis for one year,
then at regular intervals to make sure the cancer
has not returned.
Finding a recurrence as soon as possible greatly improves your
chances for recovery.
Self-care
tips
Because testicular cancer has
a high cure rate if caught early, it is extremely
important to examine your testicles monthly for
lumps and to have regular physical exams in your
doctor’s office.
Report even the smallest lump to your
doctor. If
you are a smoker, keep in mind that smoking
increases the risk for many different types of
cancer.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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