Spotting Testicular Cancer
- In 2020, approximately 9,610 new cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed.
- Early symptoms include small masses or lumps on the testes.
- Screening for this disease can be done by self-checks in the shower, or with the help of intimate partners.
Important Facts About Testicular Cancer
1. Early Symptom Most Commonly Found
Some people may, initially, confuse the early symptoms of testicular cancer a small mass as an injury. But when dismissed, this insidious cancer can grow and become worse. “It’s not uncommon to see men come in with masses on their scrotum and have inflammation of the scrotal wall; they develop pain as a result. A lump is the most common symptom of testicular cancer,” Dr. Edwin Posadas, the medical director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, tells SurvivorNet.2. Not Usually Painful, So Know Symptoms
Dr. Posadas says testicular cancer is “not a cancer that presents with more common symptoms, like pain, but it can. Most men will present with some sort of mass on their testicle. A sexual partner or spouse may feel the mass when they're being intimate.”
Some men, says Dr. Posadas, may notice blood in their ejaculate as a result of testicular cancer. “This symptom is less common, but always bad,” he says. Dr. Posadas emphasizes the need for young men to have access to medical care. “Most men under the age of 40 tend not to think about seeing a doctor they need to know to advocate for themselves,” he says.
“Sometimes there may be a sensation of discomfort, or numbness in a testicle or the scrotum, with or without swelling,” says Dr. McGregor. “Rarely, testicular cancer may produce hormones which can cause the growth of the breast tissue. Testicular cancer, even when it spread can be curable and symptoms depend on where the cancer spreads. It spreads in a very predictable pattern often to the abdomen and lungs and can cause symptoms such as back pain (if spreads to abdomen) or shortness of breath, chest pain if spreads to lungs.”
3. How to Screen for this Disease
To screen for this disease, men can do testicular self-examination, says Dr. Posadas. “It takes less than a minute. Rub testicles through your fingers looking for any sore areas. Rub the top of the testicle, particularly the delicate epididymis.” (The epididymis is a tube located at the back of the testicles which stores and carries sperm.) “Don't squeeze real hard on there,” says Dr. Posadas. “[You should] look for a smoother feel; if you feel a hard nodule on there, you may require bloodwork from a urologist. [Testicular cancer] is highly curable, even when it's advanced.”
4. At What Age Should Self-Exams Be Performed
Dr. McGregor tells SurvivorNet, “It is considered that men aged 15 to 55 perform a monthly self-examination to find any changes to help find the cancer at an early stage.” Dr. McGregor says that if someone spots any of the early symptoms, “he should visit his doctor immediately.” It’s important to be aware of your body and get in touch with a doctor if you notice anything unusual.
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Dr. McGregor continues, “Testicular cancer commonly occurs from ages 20-45 but it can occur at any age. The highest risk factor for testicular cancer is a history of cryptorchidism, an undescended testicle, where the testicle does not move down into the scrotum before birth. Men with a family history of testicular cancer are at increased risk as well. No lifestyle changes have been shown to definitively reduce risk of testicular cancer.”
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5. How to Lower Your Risk Factor
Some groups are more at risk, Dr. Posadas tells SurvivorNet. “Ironically, men in the military are more at risk; it may be due to certain exposures during the tour of duty and serving our country.” One of the biggest risk factors for testicular cancer include family history. “This is critical for all folks to know; knowing your ‘cancer disposition’ is extremely important,” says Dr. Posadas. Additionally, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important. “When your body is young, you want to invest in the future the same way we think about saving money you want to save health,” says Dr. Posadas. “Invest in your healthy by eating well and exercising regularly. The epidemic of obesity is dangerous. Due to the lifestyle of convenience, some men are not taking the best care of themselves, and not seeing a physician. One has to invest in their long-term future.”
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