Testicular Cancer: the Basic Facts
Testicular cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the one or both of the testicles of a man. Testicular cancer is very common among the Caucasian people while it is hardly found in men of African origin. The disease is not found in Asia and Africa. Since the 1960s, the incidence of the disease has doubled worldwide. The highest incidence is found in New Zealand, Scandinavia and Germany.
The rate of appearance of testicular cancer is one in every 450 person below the age of 50 years. It is the most common form of cancer in men who are between the age brackets of 15 and 45 years.
Testicular cancer shows symptoms of swelling of any of the testicles or else some hard pea sized lump on either the front or the side of the testicle. There could be a dull ache or some sharp pain around the testicle or else in the scrotum.
Cause of Testicular Cancer
The exact cause of having testicular cancer is unknown. But, it has been found in men having undescended testicles or those whose close relative had this disease are more likely to incur the disease. One major risk factor for having testis cancer is cryptorchidism. Some other factors helping its onset are inguinal hernia and mumps orchitis.
Types of Testicular Cancer
The disease is commonly seen in men of 15 to 40 years of age. There are three peaks to be seen, the infancy, 25-40 years and 60 years. The most common cancer of the testis found in young men who are in the age brackets of 15 and 35 years are the Germ cell tumors.
Testicular Cancer Symptoms
A patient with testicular cancer will find a lump or hardening in one his testis. In normal cases, the testicles should have a smooth touch feeling. If there is tumor growth or some enlarged blood vessels, ridges can be felt on it. Also the whole of the testicle feel hard and uneven to touch.
The other symptoms for having testicular cancer include loss of sexual activity, fluid build-up in the scrotum, an increase, or decrease in size in one of the testis, sexual withdrawal, a dull ache in the groin or lower abdomen and blood coming out with semen.
The size of the testicle having tumor can enlarge to three times its original size. The other testicle will similarly shrink in size as the cancerous testicle takes up most of the blood supply to the scrotum.
Testicular Cancer Treatment
Testicular cancer is among the most curable of all cancers. There are chances of over 90 percent for men to recover completely from the disease. The testicle having cancer is removed completely. If it is found that the cancer has not spread to other areas, there is no need of treatment for the disease. But if it is found in other areas, chemotherapy is given to the patient. At an early stage, radiotherapy is used on the patient.
If one testicle of a man is removed, it is not going to affect the sex life or the chances of fathering a child.
Advice
One should go fro self-examination to determine whether he has testicular cancer. It is best done during or after taking a bath. This time, the scrotum is relaxed and on holding it in the palms, one should use the fingers to check the shape and smoothness of the testicles. There could be cases whereby one testicle is smaller than the other or else one hanging lower than the other. But, if you find something amiss, you should meet your doctor immediately.
Although there are no guaranteed means of stopping testicular cancer, but if a boy below ten years of age corrects his undescended testicles, his chances of developing testicular cancer comes to the average level. One should also do regular exercise to lessen the chances of having the disease.
