Warning Signs of Testicular Cancer and How to Identify Them?
Introduction
Because it is one of the most common cancers in men aged 15 to 40, knowing the warning signs of testicular cancer and how to identify them is vital. Learn the signs as well as how to more accurately identify them.
Testicular Cancer Warning Signs
The following are all testicular cancer warning signs and many can be discovered during a testicular self-exam.
- Lump in a testicle
- Testicular pain
- Testicular swelling or enlargement
- Swelling of the inguinal lymph nodes
- Breast tenderness
- Breast swelling
- Any abnormality or change in the testicles, vas deferens or inguinal lymph nodes
Identifying these warning signs is easiest when regular self-exams are performed.
The Importance of Testicular Self Examination
Because its one of the most common cancers found in men aged 15 to 40, the importance of testicular self-examination cannot be overstated. Just as breast self-examination is a vital part of early breast cancer detection for women, testicular self-examination is a vital part of early testicular cancer detection.
How to Do a Testicular Self-Examination
Before taking a bath or shower, you can pre-identify the inguinal crease by putting your hands in your front pants pockets and then angling them inward. They will fall into a crease. This is the inguinal crease. It runs from the high inner part of your hip downward and inward towards your groin. You will need this information for later.
Following a hot bath or shower, a testicular self-examination may be performed in about three minutes.
Place your index and middle fingers on the underside of one testicle. Place your thumb on top of it. Gently roll the testicle between your fingers. You are feeling for any pea-sized lumps.
Examine the tube on the back of the testicle, known as the vas deferens. You are checking for any abnormality. Regular examination helps build familiarity with what is normal and not for your own body.
Repeat this process with the other testicle.
Check the inguinal lymph nodes. Use what you learned from the pre-shower exercise to do this part of your self-exam. Examine the inguinal crease using the pads of two fingers in order to locate the inguinal lymph nodes. They are small, oval, rubbery feeling objects under the skin. Check for any abnormalities.
Important Things to Know
The following are a few important things every man should know about testicular cancer, warning signs and self-exams.
A normal testicle will feel uniformly firm and is oval in shape. If you feel something like a coiled telephone cord on the back of your testicle, don’t panic. This is normally what the epididymis there feels like.
Finding a lump does not mean cancer is present. A lump may be malignant (cancerous) or it may be benign (non-cancerous). Finding a lump does mean a doctor needs to be consulted without delay.
If a testicle needs to be removed, sexual desire, sexual ability and fertility will remain intact. A normal sex life can be enjoyed following testicular cancer treatment.
Testicular cancer is almost always curable when found early.
Though the most common age range for testicular cancer is 15 to 40, it can occur in any male of any age.
The men themselves, after recognizing the warning signs, first identify most testicular cancer cases.
Caucasians are at higher risk than Hispanics, Blacks and Asians.
Summary
Regular self-examination is the best way to recognize the warning signs of testicular cancer. If any of the warning signs are present, a physician should be consulted without delay. Early detection offers the best outcome for testicular cancer.
Further Reading
Treatment for Testicular Cancer
References
Testicular Self-Examination. Rutgers College. (reprinted with permission from the American Cancer Society). https://health.rutgers.edu/factsheets/testicular.htm
The Testicular Cancer Primer. The Testicular Cancer Resource Center. Last updated June 17, 2007. https://tcrc.acor.org/tcprimer.html
Testicular Cancer. U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Last updated April 5, 2009 by David C. Dugdale, III, MD. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001288.htm
