SHARES
Movember or No Shave November is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men’s health issues, such as depression in men, prostate cancer and other male cancers
We discussed about Prostate cancer in previous post, and now in this post, let’s talk about Testicular Cancer in men.
What is testicular cancer? Seems unheard of…
Testicular cancer occurs in the testicles (testes), which produce male sex hormones and sperm for reproduction. Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare.
Testicular cancer is highly treatable, even when cancer has spread beyond the testicle. Depending on the type and stage of testicular cancer, you may receive one of several treatments, or a combination. Regular testicular self-examinations can help identify growths early, when the chance for successful treatment of testicular cancer is highest.
What are the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer?
- A lump or enlargement in either testicle
- A dull ache in the abdomen or groin
- A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum (a loose bag of skin underneath the penis)
- Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum
- A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
- Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts
- Back pain
It is said that cancer usually affects only one testicle.
Why should I see a doctor?
It is advised to see a doctor if you detect any pain, swelling or lumps in your testicles or groin area, especially if these signs and symptoms last longer than two weeks.
Doctors know that testicular cancer occurs when healthy cells in a testicle become altered. Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly way to keep your body functioning normally. But sometimes some cells develop abnormalities, causing this growth to get out of control — these cancer cells continue dividing even when new cells aren’t needed. The accumulating cells form a mass in the testicle.
Nearly all testicular cancers begin in the germ cells — the cells in the testicles that produce immature sperm. What causes germ cells to become abnormal and develop into cancer isn’t known.
What are the risk factors that I must be aware of?
Some of the risk factors include:
- Uncorrected, undescended testicles in infants and young children
- Family history of testicular cancer
- Having an identical twin with testicular cancer
- Viral infections of the testicles as occurs with mumps
- Injury to the scrotum
- Abnormal testicle development – Conditions that cause testicles to develop abnormally, such as Klinefelter’s syndrome, may increase your risk of testicular cancer.
- Age – Testicular cancer affects teens and younger men, particularly those between ages 15 and 35. However, it can occur at any age.
- Race – Testicular cancer is more common in white men than in other races
When must I see a doctor?
Make an appointment with your family doctor or a general practitioner if you find a lump on a testicle.
If your doctor suspects you could have testicular cancer, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of the urinary tract and male reproductive system (urologist) or a doctor who specializes in treating cancer (oncologist).
Source:
by Hridya Anand
A biochemist by education who could never put what she studied to good use, finally found GetDoc as a medium to do what she loved - bring information to people using a forum that is dedicated to all things medical. View all articles by Hridya Anand.
