Testicular cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when cells in the testicles, male reproductive glands located in the scrotum, become abnormal and grow out of control.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men and it usually affects men between the ages of 20 to 34 years, but it can occur in boys and teenagers during puberty.
Testicular cancer is also one of the most curable types of cancer. More than 95% of males diagnosed with testicular cancer survive.
Testicular Cancer Survival Rates
Life expectancy for testicular cancer is often expressed in five-year survival rates, that is, how many people will be alive five years after diagnosis.
Testicular cancer five-year survival rates:
- Localized (no sign the cancer has spread outside the testicles): 99%
- Regional (cancer has spread outside the testicles to nearby structures or lymph nodes): 96%
- Distant (cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as the lung, liver, or distant lymph nodes): 73%
What Are Symptoms of Testicular Cancer?
Symptoms of testicular cancer include:
- Pain is the first sign in about 10% of males
- A painless lump or swelling in the scrotum (frequently the first sign)
- A dull ache or heavy sensation in the lower abdomen, or around the anus or scrotum
- Early puberty in boys: signs include deepening voice and growth of facial and body hair
- Breast enlargement or soreness (rare)
Symptoms of advanced testicular cancer include:
- Low back pain if cancer spreads to the lymph nodes
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, or cough if cancer spreads to the lungs
- Abdominal pain, either from enlarged lymph nodes or the cancer has spread to the liver
- Headaches or confusion if cancer spreads to the brain
What Causes Testicular Cancer?
The cause of most testicular cancers is unknown but genetic changes may play a role.
Risk factors for that make a boy more likely to develop testicular cancer include:
- Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism)
- Fluid filling the scrotum (hydrocele)
- Enlargement of the veins in the scrotum (varicocele)
- Inguinal hernia
- Family history of testicular cancer
- HIV infection
Other risk factors for developing testicular cancer include:
- Personal history of testicular cancer in the other testicle
- Carcinoma in situ of the testicle
- Race/ethnicity
- White males develop testicular cancer about 4 to 5 times more often than Black and Asian-American males
- Being tall
How Is Testicular Cancer Diagnosed?
If a boy or man finds a lump in his testicle, he should see a doctor as soon as possible.
If testicular cancer is suspected, several tests may be ordered, such as:
- Testicular ultrasound
- Surgical removal of the testicle (orchiectomy)
- This is the only way to confirm the diagnosis of testicular cancer
In order to determine the stage of cancer and whether it has spread beyond the testicle, tests may include:
- Blood tests
- Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)
- Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG)
- Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
- Computed tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen and pelvis
- Chest X-ray or CT scan of the chest
What Is the Treatment for Testicular Cancer?
Treatment for testicular cancer may involve one or more of the following:
- Surgery to remove the affected testicle (radical inguinal orchiectomy)
- An artificial (prosthetic) testicle may be implanted to preserve normal appearance
- Lymph node removal
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
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https://www.uptodate.com/contents/testicular-cancer-beyond-the-basics?search=testicular%20cancer&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=2
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/testicular-cancer.html
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/testicular-cancer.html