Testicular Cancer

Olympic gold medal ice skater Scott Hamilton, Tour de France bicycle champion Lance Armstrong and all-star baseball player John Kruk all have something in common. They have all successfully beaten testicular cancer.

Testicular cancer is one of the most curable cancers, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) with a five year survival rate of over 90 percent. Even those with the most serious form of the disease have a 75 percent survival rate.

Risk Factors

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) calls cancer of the testicles the most common cancer in men 15 to 35 years old. One of the major risk factors for testicular cancer is undescended testicle or cryptorchidism. (Read about "Genitourinary Birth Defects") A man with this condition has a three to 17 times higher risk. This cancer is also four to five times more common in white males than other ethnic groups, according to NCI. Family history (Read about "Family Health History") of the disease also raises your risk. (Read about "Cancer Risk")

Detection

Most of the time men discover testicular cancer themselves when they notice a change. If a man does notice changes, he should consult his doctor right away. Early discovery means treatment can be less aggressive with fewer side effects. Here's what NCI says to look for:

• a painless lump or swelling in either testicle
• an enlargement of a testicle or change in the way it feels
• a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• a dull ache in the lower abdomen or the groin
• a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
• pain or discomfort in either the testicle or the scrotum

These symptoms don't always mean cancer, as there are a number of non-cancerous conditions that can cause swelling of the testicles and/or scrotum. (Read about "Swollen Testicles and Scrotum") Even so, if you do notice swelling or other changes, you should see your doctor.

The American Medical Association says that by examining their testicles carefully once a month for any suspicious changes, men can greatly increase the chances of finding testicular cancer early. ACS says that for men with normal risk factors, simply staying alert to any testicular changes is sufficient; but if you have risk factors, ACS suggests you discuss the issue of regularly scheduled monthly self-exams with your doctor. (Read about "Cancer Check-ups")

Treatments

A doctor needs to know the stage of the disease to plan treatment. The following stages are used for cancer of the testicle, according to NCI:

• Stage 0

  Abnormal cells are found in the tiny tubules where the sperm cells begin to develop. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. All tumor marker levels are normal. Stage 0 is also called carcinoma in situ.

• Stage I

  Cancer is found in the testicle, spermatic cord, or the scrotum. Stage I is subdivided depending on the extent of where the cancer is located.

• Stage II

  Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the abdomen (lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body; they produce and store infection-fighting cells). (Read about "The Lymph System")

• Stage III

  Cancer has spread beyond the lymph nodes in the abdomen. There may be cancer in parts of the body far away from the testicles, such as the lungs and liver.

Treatments for testicular cancer include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. (Read about "Radiation Therapy" "Cancer Treatments") The chosen treatment depends on the exact type of the cancer, how far it has spread and other factors such as age and general health.

• Surgery involves the removal of the testicle that is diseased. If only one testicle is removed, it does not impact the man's fertility or potency. If some of the lymph nodes in the abdomen are diseased and need to be removed, there are other side effects that need to be discussed with your doctor. There are prostheses that can be implanted to replace the removed testicle if there is concern about appearance.
• Radiation therapy uses radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. The radiation can be delivered externally, from a machine outside the body, or it may be delivered internally, from a radioactive substance that is placed or injected directly into or near the cancer. Radiation is used on some types of testicular cancer. It can also be used with other therapies, to treat the lymph nodes for example. Side effects include fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and infertility. (Read about "Infertility")
• Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by mouth or injected into the body. Side effects include nausea, temporary hair loss, mouth sores and fatigue, according to ACS.

Follow-up

A man who has had testicular cancer has an increased risk of getting it in the other testicle and of getting other types of cancers. It is therefore imperative that you stay in touch with your doctor, continue to monitor yourself and get regular physical exams.

More Cancer Information:

    Penile Cancer

    Prostate Cancer

    Cancer Check-ups

    Cancer Support

    Cancer Treatments

    Reduce Cancer Risks

    Cancer Glossary

For a list of individual types of cancer, see Cancer: What It Is

Related Information:

    Genital Health - Male

    Endocrine System