Testicular Cancer

Overview

Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable cancers and the most common cancer found in men between 20 and 39 years of age. The testicles that produce male hormones and sperm hang in the sac of skin below the penis, also known as the scrotum. They should be examined regularly for lumps, ideally once a month, after a hot shower or bath. As with all types of cancer, the earlier testicular cancer is caught, the easier it is to treat.

Types

There are two types of testicular cancer. Seminoma is more common in older men. Nonseminomas are the tumors usually found in younger men. They grow and spread rapidly. Seminomas, on the other hand, spread slower and are sensitive to radiation therapy.

Because nonseminomas grow quicker and spread more rapidly, they are the more dangerous form of testicular cancer. Nonetheless, testicular cancer is a highly treatable and highly curable cancer. Even nonseminomas that have spread beyond the testicles usually respond very well to radiation and/or chemotherapy treatments.

Symptoms

The first sign of testicular cancer is usually the discovery of a lump or swollen spot on a testicle. Even if no lump has been detected, a person might sense that a testicle feels heavy or larger than normal. Pain in the groin or lower abdomen, or even pain in the scrotum or one testicle, can be a sign of testicular cancer as well.

Causes/Risk Factors

The cause of testicular cancer is unknown, but the same risk factors for other cancers seem to play a part. Smoking, obesity, a poor diet, alcohol consumption and exposure to cancer-causing chemicals and substances (carcinogens) increase the risk of every type of cancer, including testicular cancer. Men with a family history of cancer are also more prone to develop testicular cancer.

Testicular problems are believed to be a factor in some cases, as when a testicle develops abnormally or does not descend on its own. While these are believed to be possible factors, no concrete links have been identified between these conditions and cancer.

Tests/Diagnosis

To detect testicular cancer, a physical exam is usually conducted. Blood tests can also aid in the diagnosis of testicular cancer. The blood sample is examined for the presence of three tumor markers, namely alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (-hCG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Another method to diagnosis this type of cancer is through an ultrasound exam. The most intrusive method of diagnosis is the radical inguinal orchiectomy and biopsy. This procedure requires the removal of the entire testicle so that a tissue sample from the testicle can be examined under a microscope for cancerous cells

Treatment

Surgery is used to remove the testicle. In some cases, the surrounding lymph nodes are removed to check for the spread of the cancer. In the early stages, this treatment is all that is necessary. In more advanced cases, radiation and chemotherapy can be used to fight the spread of cancer cells and to try to prevent reoccurrence.