Testicular Cancer: Symptoms and Treatment
Testicular cancer is a cancer that obviously forms on a man’s testicles, testicles are the egg shaped glands that are used to produce the male’s sperm as well as the hormone testosterone. Testicular cancer is more common among males between the ages of 15 and 39, being most common in the mid twenties. It is also common in males who have abnormal testicle development, men who have an undescended testicle. If you have a family history of cancer you are also more prone to testicular cancer. Eight to nine thousand cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed yearly; the risk of getting testicular cancer is about one in two hundred and fifty. Testicular cancer can easily be treated if caught early in its development, the longer it goes undetected and untreated the more damage can occur. It is advised to check yourself often for any possible signs of testicular cancer, and regular yearly check ups are also recommended.
Symptoms of testicular cancer include swollen, up to three times its normal size, in some cases a shrinking of the testicle can occur. An aching pain, tenderness or even a numbness of the testicle. If the testicle feels hard and rough, or bumpy it could also be a sign of testicular cancer. An ache in your lower abdomen or groin area that becomes frequent or long lasting can be a sign. Build up of fluid in the groin, testicle area, or notice blood in your semen, as well as a loss of sexual activity or withdrawal is another symptom. If you notice any of these symptoms as well as general feel worn and tired it would be a good idea to seek medical advice.
Treatment options for testicular cancer include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. All of which can help rid you of the testicular cancer especially if caught early on during its early stages of development. The main treatment for most cases of testicular cancer is removal of the testicle; this removes the cancer from your body to prevent spreading. Radiation therapy is also used if your testicular cancer is of the seminoma type; the way this treatment works is by use of a laser to destroy the cancer cells. Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to fight the cancer, may be another option, this also helps to fight off and spreading cancer and is sometimes used in conjunction with the other forms of treatment as a preventative measure. There is a chance of fertility in the methods of treatment so if you plan on having kids in the future it is recommended that you have sperm stored in a sperm bank for future use if the treatment does result in infertility. |
