What is Testicular Cancer?

What is Testicular Cancer?
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What is Testicular Cancer?

Testicular cancer is a relatively rare form of cancer which develops in the testicles. However, despite its overall rarity, this type of cancer is actually the most common to affect American makes between 15 and 34. The cancer can be treated effectively, even after it has spread, with surgery, chemotherapy, or a combination of the two.

In spite of these facts, testicular cancer does kill several hundred men every year in America. Deaths from testicular cancer are typically due to late-stage diagnosis. In turn, late diagnosis is usually due to the fact that most men are unaware of the importance of self-examination, and testicular cancer research indicates that men are generally not well informed about the cancer. This means that many men don’t understand the importance of the early testicular cancer symptoms they experience, and may not seek medical advice until the cancer had significantly advanced.

While the cause of testicular cancer is unknown, there are some factors which may increase the risk. These include having an undecided testicle or other kind of abnormal testicular development, and having a family history of testicular cancer. In addition, men between 15 and 34 are most at risk, and white men are more at risk than men of other races.

Testicular Cancer Symptoms

Signs and symptoms which may indicate the development of testicular cancer may include the following:

  • Enlarged testicle, or a lump in one testicle
  • Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
  • Dull ache in groin or abdomen
  • Build-up of fluid in the scrotum (often occurs suddenly)
  • Discomfort or pain in either testicle, or in the scrotum
  • Tenderness or enlargement of breasts
  • Fatigue or general feeling of unwellness.

Note that in most cases, only one testicle is affected. In addition, it’s important to realize that pain does not always accompany early symptoms of testicular cancer – a lump in the testicle may be cancer even if it is not painful.

Treatment for Testicular Cancer

Treatment options for testicular cancer include surgery to remove the tumor and part or all of the testicle, followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy (these may also be used as stand-alone treatments depending on circumstances).

Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for testicular cancer treatment can be followed by either temporary or permanent infertility. Because testicular cancer treatment has a high success rate, much testicular cancer research has recently focused on ways to preserve fertility in men who have been treated. Currently, the most common way of preserving fertility is to have sperm cryogenically frozen before undergoing treatment, in addition to choosing treatment options which are less likely to have a toxic effect on sperm.

References and Further Reading

Brown, C. Testicular Cancer: An Overview. Urologic Nursing. 24(2):83-94, 2004.

The Mayo Clinic on Testicular Cancer