Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is a cancer that men develop in their testicles. Around 1 in every 250 men develop this type of cancer. It has been found that testicular cancer affects men ages 15 to 45 more than at any other ages, and more in men who are in their mid-twenties. Testicular cancer can be cured, however, early treatment is the best kind.
Because early treatment gives the best chance for a cure, men are urged to do monthly self checks. The best time to do this type of check is after a warm shower or bath. This is because the skin of the scrotum is loose, and it will be easier to feel any differences. Men should thoroughly feel around each testicle. You should be suspicious if you find any type of lump or hardening of either testicle. If you do find something out of the ordinary, you should contact your doctor right away. Other common symptoms of testicular cancer include:
-Any type of pain or tenderness in the testicles or scrotum.
-A buildup of fluid in the scrotum.
-Erectile dysfunction.
-Pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen or groin area.
-Blood in your semen or urine.
-A significant difference in the size of the testicles. This could mean that the size of one of the testis has increased or decreased.
Testicular cancer has one of the highest cure rates of all types of cancer. As a matter of fact, almost 90% of men with testicular cancer are cured. However, the earlier the treatment, the better the chance of being cured. Testicular cancer is most common in Caucasian Americans, and is less common in African Americans. Testicular cancer is very rare in Asian and Indian men.
To examine the testis to determine whether an individual has testicular cancer, a doctor or assistant will use a testicular ultrasound machine. This is a device which will allow the physician to see the tumor, where it is located, it’s size, and much more information. A biopsy is usually done to determine whether or not the tumor is malignant. In 95% of the cases of a tumor on a testicle, the tumor is malignant.
Surgery is usually done to remove the tumor. While in some cases, the tumor may be removed and the testis left intact and functioning, this is rare. As a matter of fact, most doctors will want to remove the entire testicle. A man only needs one testicle to retain his fertility, and for the production of hormones, so even if one testis is removed, he can still have children. He probably won’t have any complications from the removal of the testis.
Since the removal of one testis does not ensure that the cancer will not come back, some doctors want to remove both testicles. This ensures that the cancer will not come back. This also means that the man will be unable to have children, and may need some type of hormone replacement therapy to make up for the loss of the hormones that the testicles produce. There are also scrotal enhancements that can be done for cosmetic purposes as well.
If you think you may have testicular cancer, or you have been experiencing symptoms like the ones listed above, you should see your health care provider immediately. The more you know, the better your chance is to retain a normal life and stay healthy.
