Testicular cancer causes and symptoms and methods of detection, treatment and prevention

Testicular cancer occurs in the testes, which are located inside the scrotum, a loose sac of skin under the penis, testes produced in male sex hormones and sperm.

Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare, but testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer in American males aged 15 to 35 years.

Testicular cancer is treatable, even when the cancer spreads outside the testicle, depending on the type and stage of testicular cancer, you may receive one of many treatments, or a combination of treatments, and self-examination of the testicle can help to determine the growth rates of the tumor early, Of the chance of successful treatment.

Testicular cancer

Symptoms of testicular cancer

Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include:

Bump or swelling in the testicle

Feeling heavy in the scrotum

Pain in the abdomen or thigh

Sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum

Pain or discomfort in the testicle or scrotum

 Back ache

Note: Cancer usually affects only one testicle.

When you see your doctor:

Check with your doctor if you find any pain, swelling or lumps in the testicles or thigh area, especially if these signs and symptoms persist for longer than two weeks.

Causes of testicular cancer

There are no obvious things that cause testicular cancer in most cases.

Doctors know that testicular cancer occurs when the healthy cells in the testicle are changed, as healthy cells grow and divide in an organized way to keep your body normal, but sometimes some cells develop abnormally, making this growth out of control, and these cancer cells continue to divide until When new cells are not needed, making the cells accumulate and form a mass in the testicle.

All testicular cancers begin in the germ cells which are cells in the testes that produce immature sperm.

Risk factors:

Factors that may increase the risk of testicular cancer include:

1. Outstanding testicle:

The testes are formed in the abdomen during embryonic development and are usually transmitted to the scrotum before birth. Men with a non-ectopic testicle are at risk of testicular cancer, and the risk remains high even if the testicle has been surgically transferred to the scrotum.

However, the vast majority of men who have testicular cancer have no history of testicular failure.

2. Development of abnormal testicle:

Conditions that cause the testicles to develop abnormally, such as the Kleinfeldt syndrome, may increase the risk of testicular cancer.

3. Family History:

If a family member has testicular cancer, it may increase the risk of testicular cancer.

4. Age:

Testicular cancer affects teens and young people, especially those between the ages of 15 and 35, yet it can occur at any age.

5. Breed:

Testicular cancer is more common in white men than blacks.

Preparing for your appointment with your doctor:

You should make an appointment with your family doctor or general practitioner if you have a testicle.

If your doctor doubts that you may have testicular cancer, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections and the male reproductive system (Urology) or a doctor specializing in cancer treatment (tumors).

how to prepare:

Because appointment with a doctor can be short, and there is not much to cover, so it is a good idea to be prepared for this good preparation, so try:

Be aware of any pre-visit restrictions, and while you are visiting, ask if there is anything you need to do in advance.

Write down any symptoms you experience, including that may seem unrelated to why you visited your doctor.

Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or changes in life recently.

Make a list of all the medicines and vitamins or supplements you are taking.

Consider taking a family member or friend, since sometimes it may be difficult to take all the information during the appointment, and the person who accompanies you may remind you of something you missed or forgot.

Ask your doctor questions:

Your time with the doctor is limited, so you can prepare a list of questions that will help you make the most of your time with him and arrange your list of questions from the most important to the least important in the case of run out of time and testicular cancer Some basic questions that you may need answered by your doctor:

Do I have testicular cancer?

What type of testicular cancer do I have?

Can you explain an anatomical report to my patients? Can I get a copy of my autopsy report?

What is the stage of my testicular cancer?

Will I need any additional tests?

What treatment options are available to me?

What are the chances of cure for testicular cancer?

What are the side effects and risks of each treatment?

Is there one cure you think is best for me?

Should I see a specialist?

I am concerned about my ability to have children in the future. What can I do before treatment to plan for infertility?

Are there leaflets or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend to visit to know more about my illness?

In addition to these questions that you are willing to ask your doctor, do not hesitate to ask questions that come to mind during your appointment with your doctor.

What to expect from your doctor:

Your doctor may ask you a number of questions and you'll be ready to answer them giving you more time to cover the other points you want to address, and your doctor may ask:

When did you start experiencing symptoms?

Do symptoms persist or sometimes come?

How severe are your symptoms?

What things may improve your symptoms?

What things aggravate your symptoms?

Tests and diagnosis:

In some cases, men may experience testicular cancer themselves, either inadvertently or during self-examination to check for lumps, and in other cases your doctor will detect a tumor during routine physical examination.

To determine if it is definitely testicular cancer, your doctor may recommend the following:

1. Ultrasound:

An ultrasound test is used on the testicle to create a picture of the scrotum and testicles, and during the ultrasound lay on your back with your leg individual, then the doctor applies a transparent gel to the scrotum. The probe is carried by hand on the scrotum to create an ultrasound image.

An ultrasound test can help your doctor determine the nature of testicular lumps, whether the lumps are solid or filled with fluid, as the ultrasound tells the doctor whether the lumps are inside or outside the testicle.

 

2. Blood tests:

The doctor may ask for tests to determine the levels of tumor markers in the blood, and tumor markers are substances that are found naturally in the blood, but may be elevated in some cases including testicular cancer, and having a high level of tumor marker in the blood does not mean you have cancer, May help the doctor determine the diagnosis.

3. Surgery to remove the testicle:

If a diagnosis is made that the testicle may be cancerous, the operation to remove the testicle is recommended, and the portion removed from the testicle will be analyzed to determine if the lump is cancerous and, if necessary, the type of cancer is determined.

Determine the type of testicular cancer:

The testicular test will be analyzed to determine the type of testicular cancer, as the type of testicular cancer determines appropriate treatment and diagnosis, and in general there are two types of testicular cancer:

1. Menawi:

Sperm occurs in all age groups, but if the man progresses in age the testicular cancer is likely to be spermatic, and in general, the semen is not as aggressive as the ventricle.

2. Non-sperm:

Non-spermous tumors tend to develop earlier in life, grow and spread rapidly, and there are several different types of non-spermous tumors.

Cancer Staging:

When the doctor confirms the diagnosis, the next step is to determine the extent (stage) of the cancer, and to determine whether the cancer has spread outside the testicle, and undergo the following:

1. CT scan:

CT scans A series of x-rays are taken on the abdomen, chest, and pelvis. The doctor uses a CT scan to look for signs that the cancer has spread.

2. Blood tests:

Blood tests to look for elevated tumor markers can help the doctor to understand whether the cancer is most likely still in your body after the removal of the testicle or not.

After these tests, testicular cancer is confirmed, and the next stage will help determine what treatments are best for you, and the stages of testicular cancer are:

The first stage cancer is restricted to the testicle.

The second phase. Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the abdomen.

third level. Cancer has spread to other parts of the body, and testicular cancer has a more common spread to the lungs and liver.

Treatment of testicular cancer

The options for treating testicular cancer depend on several factors, including type, stage of cancer, general health, and other preferences.

surgeries:

The procedures used to treat testicular cancer include:

1. Surgery to remove the testis (testicular removal)

Is the primary treatment for almost all stages and types of testicular cancer, and to remove the testicle, the surgeon performs a groove in the groin and extraction of the testicle all through the opening.

 

2. Surgery to remove nearby lymph nodes:

Through the incision in the abdomen the surgeon takes care to avoid the harmful nerves surrounding the lymph glands, but in some cases nerve damage may be unavoidable, and damaged nerves can cause ejaculation, but will not prevent you from getting an erection.

Note: In cases of testicular cancer at an early stage, surgery may be the only treatment.

If surgery is the only treatment for testicular cancer, your doctor will recommend a follow-up schedule. In these appointments - usually every few months over the first few years and then much less afterwards - you should undergo blood tests, CT scans and other procedures to verify Signs that indicate cancer.

Radiotherapy:

Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy rays, such as x-rays, to kill cancer cells. During radiation therapy you are placed on a table and moving in a large machine around you. The power packs aim at steering to specific points in the body.

Radiation therapy is a treatment option that is sometimes used in people who have an intestinal type of testicular cancer, and radiotherapy may be recommended after surgery to remove the testicle.

Side effects such as fatigue, as well as skin redness and irritability in the abdominal and hip areas, and radiation therapy may also cause infertility as well, and you should talk to your doctor about options to maintain sperm before starting radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells, and chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells from all over the body.

Chemotherapy may be the only treatment for some cases and may be recommended before or after surgery to remove the lymph nodes.

The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the drugs used. Ask your doctor what to expect. Common side effects include fatigue, nausea, hair loss and an increased risk of infection. Some medications and treatments are available that limit some of the side effects of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is likely to cause infertility, which can be permanent, and you should talk to your doctor about your options to maintain sperm before starting chemotherapy.

Adaptation and support:

Each one must learn the method of understanding with the owner of testicular cancer and deal with the emotions in his own way, and the patient may feel frightened for his future after diagnosis.

Because the feelings of anxiety may not go away, you can create a plan to help manage the emotions, and you should try:

Learn enough about testicular cancer, and you have to write questions that you want to ask your doctor, and ask your doctor or other health care team to get the answer from reliable sources.

Take care of yourself and make the right decisions in daily life to prepare for cancer treatment, a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables, get plenty of rest so that you wake up each morning with a sense of recovery, eliminate stress so that you can concentrate, try to exercise most days of the week, If you smoke you should stop smoking immediately and you can talk to your doctor about medications and other strategies to help you stop smoking.

protection:

There is no way to prevent testicular cancer.

Some doctors recommend regular self-examination to determine testicular cancer in its early stages, but not all doctors agree, so you should discuss the self-examination of the testicle.

If you choose to do a self-examination of the testicle, the good time to examine the testicles is after a warm bath or shower, and the heat of the water will relieve the scrotum, making it easier for you to find anything unusual.

To perform this scan, follow these steps:

Stand in front of the mirror and look for any swelling on the skin in the scrotum.

Examine each testicle with both hands, placing the index finger and middle under the testicle while placing the thumb on top.

The testicles are gently wrapped between the thumb and fingers, and remember that the testicles are usually smooth, elliptical and fairly fixed, and it is normal for one testicle to be slightly larger than the other, and also the leading lead rope is higher than the top of the testicle is a normal part of the scrotum , And by performing this screening regularly you can become more familiar with the testicles and be aware of any changes that may be disturbing.

If you have a tumor, you should make an appointment with your doctor.