Testicular cancer occurs most often in young men, aged 15-35. If detected and treated early, survival rates for testicular cancer exceed 90 percent. Doctors recommend that men perform a monthly self-exam to watch for changes that may signal testicular cancer or another medical condition. If you find something that concerns you, your physician will be able to run additional tests to diagnose the problem and recommend a treatment plan. Early detection is the key to safeguarding your health and fertility.
Symptoms of Testicular Cancer
Your earliest warning signs of testicular cancer might include a painless lump or swollen area in either testicle. It might start out as small as a pea or marble. One testicle may feel firmer than the other. Pain in either testicle (with or without swelling) should not be ignored. A dull ache or heavy feeling in the lower abdomen or groin can also be a sign of cancer. You might notice a sudden fluid buildup in your testicle. If the tumor is a hormone-producing type of tumor, your breasts may become larger and feel sore.
Is It Cancer or Something Else?
Perform a monthly testicular exam to look for any changes in the shape, size or "feel" of the testicles. Each of your testicles has a small sperm transit organ called the epididymis, which lies along the top of each testicle and can be felt as a raised area. Pain in the testicles can have other non-cancerous causes such as physical injury (twisting or torsion) or an infection of the epididymis (epididymitis) or testicle (orchitis). Swelling of the veins around the testicle can make the testicle feel "wormy" (varicocele), a non-cancerous condition that should also be treated. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. If it is cancer, the earliest diagnosis of testicular cancer facilitates exceptionally high cure rates (greater than 90 percent).
Diagnostic Tests
If you find something suspicious in your self-exam, see your doctor for additional tests to confirm or rule out cancer. Your doctor can order an ultrasound exam to painlessly image the testicle to determine the presence, size and denseness of a tumor. He can order blood tests to look for tumor markers. He may remove a small piece of tissue (biopsy) for staining and microscopic examination by a pathologist to look for the presence of cancer cells. Imaging systems like X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans are used to find out whether the cancer has spread, depending on the type of tumor. If you have testicular cancer, your treatment will be tailored to the type, size and spread of your cancer.
Early Detection
The bottom line is that the earlier the cancer is discovered, the less likely it will have spread. The less the cancer spreads, the more likely your cancer treatment will be successful. In addition, if the cancer is only in the testicle, your treatment will likely be less aggressive and easier to tolerate. Monthly self-examination will also help you detect other non-cancerous conditions that also require treatment to protect your fertility.
