TESTICULAR CANCER
Testicular cancer is a relatively rare disease. Each year, it affects about 8,500 men, many of them between the ages of 15 and 35.
Types for testicular cancer
About 95 percent of testicular cancers begin in germ cells, specialized cells in the testicles that make sperm. While these tumors typically start in the testicles they also occasionally arise in the abdomen, chest, or other areas of the body, even if there’s no evidence of cancer in or near the testicles.
Two of the most common germ cell tumors are seminoma and nonseminoma.
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Seminomas make up about half of all germ cell tumors. They usually grow slowly. Our doctors can often cure early-stage seminomas because they’re less likely to metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body.
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Nonseminomas are often more aggressive than seminomas, and more likely to spread beyond the testicle.
Risk factors for testicular cancer
There are two important risk factors that can increase your chance of getting the disease.
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An undescended testicle Testicles drop down from the abdomen to the scrotum before you’re born. If you were born with an undescended testicle, you have a greater risk of testicular cancer, even if you’ve had surgery to fix the issue.
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A previous testicular cancer diagnosis If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer in one of your testicles, you’re more likely to get cancer in the other one.
Symptoms for testicular cancer
The most common signs of testicular cancer are pain, swelling, or a lump or hardness in the testicles. If you find a lump in a testicle, please see a doctor immediately.
Less common symptoms include:
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Lower abdomen or groin pain
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Tenderness in the breast area
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A painless lump in the testicle
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Heaviness in the scrotum
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Back pain
Diagnosis for testicular cancer
Surgery is an important part of diagnosing testicular cancer. In the surgical procedure, which is called a radical orchiectomy, we remove the affected testicle and examine the tumor to identify which type of tumor you have: seminoma, nonseminoma, or something less common. This information helps us to choose the right treatment for you.
Stages for testicular cancer
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Stage I: when the cancer is only in the testicle with no evidence that it has spread
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Stage II: when the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes in the abdomen or pelvis
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Stage III: when the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the chest, lungs, liver, bones, or brain
Treatment for testicular cancer
Surgery is usually the primary treatment for early-stage seminomas and nonseminomas that haven’t metastasized (spread). For more aggressive or advanced testicular cancer, our comprehensive team can offer innovative chemotherapy and other possible approaches through our numerous clinical trials.
