Even though testicular cancer is not that common, it happens to be the second most common cancer in young men (aged 20-39) excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. Of course, the most common testicular cancers are germ cell tumors. There are two main types, seminoma and non-seminoma.
Seminoma testicular cancer occurs in men aged between 25 and 45 years and develops more slowly compared to non-seminoma cancers. On the other hand, non-seminoma testicular cancer is more rampant in younger men, usually in their later teens or early 20s.
It is important to note that testicular cancer may sometimes show no symptoms. But when it does, the most common symptom is a painless swelling or a lump in a testicle, or a change in size or shape. However, that’s not to say there are no other symptoms among patients with testicular cancer.
Some of the less common symptoms of testicular cancer include; feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, feeling of unevenness, pain or ache in the lower abdomen, the testicle or scrotum, back pain, and enlargement or tenderness of the breast tissue due to hormones created by cancer cells.
If detected early, testicular cancer is among the most curable cancers. This explains why self-checking is so important. Some factors that may increase the risk of developing testicular cancer include; undescended testicle, family history, personal history, infertility, HIV and AIDS, physical features, cannabis use and intersex variations.
Of course, there is no known link between testicular cancer and injury to the testicles, sporting strains, hot baths or wearing tight clothes. If by any chance you notice some changes, you should take it upon yourself to visit your GP who will examine your testicles for any lumps or swelling.
Other tests used to diagnose testicular cancer include ultrasound, to confirm the presence of a mass, and blood tests for the tumor markets alpha-fetoprotein, beta human chorionic gonadotrophin and lactate dehydrogenase.
However, the only surefire way to diagnose testicular cancer is by surgical removal of the affected testicle. Even though many other types of cancers are diagnosed by biopsy, cutting into a testicle could spread the cancer to other parts of the body. Hence, the whole testicle needs to be removed if cancer is strongly suspected.
Aside from the results of the diagnostic tests above, a chest x-ray and CT scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis are done to determine whether and how far the cancer has spread.
