Also known as cancer of the testes and germ cell tumor, testicular cancer cannot be prevented but its early detection helps the treatment to be successful.
Some risk factors for the possibility of testicular cancer are having an un descended testicle or an abnormal development here. A telling factor is if this cancer has affected males in your family.
Men with Klinefelter’s syndrome have smaller testicles and this is also a risk factor. Researchers have also found that white males are at higher risk of developing this cancer. Men who have already had testicular cancer are at risk of having the other testicle also affected.
All men should learn to perform self-examinations once they hit their teens. What you are looking for is a lump or swelling in the testicle, which may or may not be painful.
There may be testicular enlargement. You may be experiencing a feeling of being swollen in the scrotum or you may have pains in that area. Lower backache or aches in the pelvic or groin area may be affecting you. You might also find that fluid has collected in the scrotum. Tender and swollen breasts and a decrease in libido are also indications you need to be aware of.
However, it is not necessary that you will have any of the above symptoms. You may go in for other tests and then find out that you have testicular cancer. Or injuries to the testes can be the cause of pain and swelling and may not be linked to cancer at all.
You do need to consult a doctor, though, if you suspect anything.
A physician will examine the testes to check for any lumps or signs of swelling.
Sometimes the cancer might have spread to the lymph nodes in the abdomen so he will check that too. You may have to have an ultrasound so the doctor can be helped to diagnose the cancer. Some blood tests also are carried out to aid the doctor’s diagnosis.
Some testicular cancers exude particular proteins in high quantities and their presence indicates that testicular cancer is present. Imaging tests such as chest x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans can determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The doctor may also advise a biopsy to check for the cancer.
You can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Your treatment will depend on your age, the stage the cancer is at, and your general medical history. If you are a young man between 15 and 40 then don’t hesitate. Examine yourself on a regular basis and go for medical checkups so the doctor can help eliminate the possibility of testicular cancer.
