What is Testicular Cancer?

Testicular cancer affects part of the male reproductive system, the testicles, which is responsible for producing sperm and the male hormone testosterone.

Although cancer of the testes is quite rare, according to the NHS 2,000 men in the UK suffer from testicular cancer. This means that around 1-2 percent of all cancers experienced by men are testicular.

Cancer of the testicles is most common in younger men and is the biggest cause of cancer-related death in 15- to 35-year-old males.

Early detection of testicular cancer is very important, especially as the number of cases in the UK continues to rise.

Causes of Testicular Cancer

Undescended testicle: This refers to a testicle that has not dropped into the scrotum at birth or within the first year after birth. If the testicle does not drop, surgery will be required. Those with undescended testicles are at greater risk than most.

Research by Cancer Research UK sites a Swedish study that claims if surgery to rectify the undescended testicle occurs after 13 years old than boys who had undescended testicle are also five times more likely to develop testicular cancer.

Other causes of Testicular Cancer include:

Genetic: Those whose brothers have experienced testicular cancer are more than likely to develop the same cancerous cells in the testes.

Fertility: Fertility problems have often been linked to testicular cancer, alongside poor sperm quality.

Ethnic background: Studies claim that white men are more likely than black men to develop testicular cancer.

Mumps: Men who have suffered from a rare complication of mumps, called mumps orchitis, are also at greater risk of testicular cancer.

Symptoms of Testicular Cancer

The most common symptom of a testicular cancer is a lump or some swelling in part of the affected testicle.

However, Cancer Research UK says that men should not automatically presume a lump found is cancerous, but it is important to have it inspected.

Cancerous lumps can vary significantly in size, from very small- almost the shape of a pea to much larger. Lumps are not usually painful but testicular cancer patients may feel some pain and experience swelling in the following areas;

The affected testicle
Lower abdomen and
Scrotum. (The scrotum may also feel heavy).

Cancer cells can spread and may also cause negative affects on the;

Back,
Pelvis,
Chest,
Neck and
Collarbone.

Diagnoses of Testicular Cancer

Blood tests are often used to detect cancerous cells in the testes. However some can develop a fluid filled cyst called a hydrocoele. The cyst can feel like a lump but is not cancerous.

To examine whether the lump is a fluid filled cyst or a cancerous lump, doctors will use a light. If the light shows through the lump it is a cyst. This is because a cancer is a solid lump and the light can't pass through it. Your doctor may call this test 'transillumination'.

Treatment of Testicular Cancer

Treatments for testicular cancer have improved vastly over the past few years leading to a high survival rate of 95 percent.

Both surgery to remove the cancer and Radiotherapy are common treatments to cure testicular cancer.

However, the treatment for testicular cancer can leave men infertile. Research shows that the risk of infertility has encouraged a significant number of men to bank their sperm before undergoing treatment; so that the natural procreation may be possible in the future.

“As most men treated for testicular cancer are young and the survival rate exceeds 90 per cent, the issue of after-treatment fertility is important” reiterates US researcher at the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Nashville, Christopher R Girasole.

“Revolutionary techniques such as in vitro fertilisation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection make pregnancy possible with even the lowest quality of sperm,” adds Girasole.

Preventing Testicular Cancer

Doctors thoroughly recommend carrying out a self examination test once a month.

According to Cancer Research UK the best time to conduct a small examination is after a warm bath or shower, as this is when the scrotum skin is relaxed.

How to perform a Testicular Cancer self-examination test:

Hold your scrotum in the palms of your hands, so that you can use the fingers and thumb on both hands to examine your testicles.

Note the size and weight of the testicles. It is common to have one testicle slightly larger, or which hangs lower than the other, but any noticeable increase in size or weight many mean something is wrong.

Gently feel each testicle individually. You should feel a soft tube at the top and back of the testicle. This is the epididymis which carries and stores sperm. It may feel slightly tender. Don't confuse it with an abnormal lump.

You should be able to feel the firm, smooth tube of the spermatic cord which runs up from the epididymis.

Feel the testicle itself. It should be smooth with no lumps or swellings. It is unusual to develop cancer in both testicles at the same time, so if you are wondering whether a testicle is feeling normal or not you can compare it with the other.

Remember - if you do find a swelling in your testicle, make an appointment and have it checked by your doctor as soon as possible.

For more information visit: www.cancerhelp.org.uk