Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is a relatively rare form of cancer amongst men. However, amongst young males aged 15-34, it is the most common form of cancer. Testicular cancer is around 4 times more common in white men over black or Asian men but the reasons are unknown.

Testicular cancer is not a death sentence. In fact in most cases, it is completely curable especially if diagnosed at an early stage. This highlights the importance of regular testicular checks that need to be carried out at least once a month.

Symptoms of testicular cancer

During the testicular self examinations the male is asked to check the testicles for

any unusual lumps (which are often painless)

any enlargement of a testicle

a heavy feeling in the scrotum

a dull ache or pain in the groin or lower abdomen

any pain in a testicle or in the scrotum

in some cases there could also be an enlargement or sore tenderness of the breast due to the changes in the body.

If any of these systems persist for longer then two weeks, the abnormalities are to be reported to the doctor or urologist immediately.

Diagnosis of testicular cancer

The diagnosis of testicular cancer can only be confirmed in one way. This is through a biopsy which would be examined by a pathologist under the microscope. A sample of the tissue is obtained by an operation known as inguinal orchiectomy. This operation involves removing a small piece of tissue from the affected testicle through the groin.

The stages of testicular cancer

There are three main stages of the testicular cancer disease:

Stage 1 - At this stage the cancer is still restricted to the testicle.

Stage 2 - In stage 2, the testicular cancer would have already spread to retroperitoneal lymph nodes, which are found in the rear of the body below the diaphragm, a muscular wall sectioning off the chest cavity from the abdomen.

Stage 3 - At this stage, the cancer is at its most dangerous since it would have gone further then the lymph nodes to more different parts of the body. However, up to seventy percent of testicular cases detected at this late stage can still be cured.

Treatment of testicular cancer

The treatment of testicular cancer varies according to the patient and the case. The treatment will be different according to what stage the cancer is in and how much of it would have spread. The main modes of treatment start from chemotherapy to the surgery and removal of the infected testicle.

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Disclaimer:This web site is intended for educational purposes only and should not substitute for the care of a medically trained physician.

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