Are you ignoring that painless uncomfortable lump in your testis that you accidentally discovered the other day? Are you thinking that it could not be anything serious? After all, are you not young to really bother about lumps being cancerous growths. Well, you may be right in thinking that cancers happen to the elderly. But mind you, not always. Cancers happen even in the young and are equally fatal. But don’t lose heart. Cancer is almost always curable if detected on time. Early diagnosis rests on your awareness about the condition, and taking initiative to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Cancer of the testis
Testicles/ testes are male sex glands located in a pouch of skin (scrotum) that hangs behind your penis. They produce and store sperm, and are also the main source of the male sex hormone testosterone. The development of your reproductive organs and male characteristics such as body and facial hair, low voice, and wide shoulders are controlled by testosterone.
Cells in one or both your testicles may undergo malignant/ cancerous changes, and is called as testicular cancer. Based on the type of cells in the tumor, it is classified into two main types; seminoma and non-seminoma.
Testicular cancer is more common in white men as compared to black men and men of Asian origin. You are at particular risk if you are between 15 and 39 years of age. You are also at an increased risk of testicular cancer if you have undescended testis (testicle that does not move down into the scrotum at birth) or have any abnormalities of the testis from birth. Having a family history of testicular cancer in your father or brother also increases your risk for the condition. If you have already had testicular cancer in one testis, there is a greater chance that you will develop cancer of the other testis as well.
Be aware of the symptoms
You should see your doctor if you notice a painless lump or swelling/pain or discomfort in your testis, feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, enlargement of the testicle, sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum, or a dull ache in the back, lower abdomen, or groin. Your doctor may also find signs of cancer on examination of your testes during routine physical examinations. You may also notice symptoms due to the increased production of hormones. These may include increase in the breast size, excess hair growth on the face and body in young boys (premature puberty), and decreased sex drive.
Self-examine your testes
You should do self-examination of your testis every month so that testicular cancer can be detected in its early, treatable stage. The best time that you can do it is while taking a shower or after bath, as the skin of your scrotum is relaxed at that time. Hold your penis out of the way during examination. You should examine each testicle separately by rolling it gently between the thumb and fingers. Look and feels for hard lump or masses or changes in size, shape, or feel of the testes. You should contact your doctor if you notice any hard lumps or nodules, have any doubts about the examination, or notice any symptoms of testicular cancer.
At the clinic
If your symptoms and clinical findings suggest possible testicular cancer, your doctor will, in addition to assessing your physical health, also order for certain laboratory and diagnostic tests. Blood tests may be done to measure the levels of tumor markers (substances that are found higher than normal amounts when cancer is present) such as alfa fetoprotein (AFP), beta human chorionic gonadotropin (ßhCG), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). An ultrasound of the scrotum can help your physician detect the presence of a mass in the testis and assess its size. It can also aid in ruling out infection or collection of fluid unrelated to cancer. If you are suspected of having testicular cancer, a procedure called biopsy (microscopic examination of testicular tissue) may be done by your doctor. In this procedure, a small tissue of the testes is removed and examined for presence of cancer.
Treating testicular cancer
The three basic options available if you are diagnosed with testicular cancer are surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. The option that your doctor will choose for you will depend on your age, general health, and other factors.
During surgery for testicular cancer, the affected testicle is removed through an incision in the groin. Rest assured as even with one testicle you can still have a normal erection and produce sperms. In radiation therapy, high energy rays are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. While this can interfere with sperm production, you can regain your fertility within 1 to 2 years. Chemotherapy or use of anticancer drugs is usually done after surgery to destroy the cancerous cells that may remain in the body. Or it may be the treatment of choice if you have advanced cancer.
Post treatment regular follow up is important. As with all cancers, testicular cancer can come back.
Success rate of treatment
The cancer’s stage determines how well a treatment will work. If detected early, the success rate of the treatment is 98%. If the cancer has spread to the adjacent organs, the success rates are more than 90%.
Detect it early!!
Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in men between the ages of 20 and 34. While it accounts for only about 1% of all cancers in men, it is the cancer killer among men in this age group. Testicular cancer can be treated and cured if diagnosed early. If you come across symptoms such as a painless swelling of the testis, heaviness, and sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum, see a doctor right away. Many other conditions can present in the same manner and it is likely that you may not have testicular cancer. But if you do, the sooner you start the treatment, the better the chances of it working for you.
