Testicular cancer is cancer of testicles.
Causes
- History of testicular cancer
- Klinefelter syndrome
- Abnormal testicle development
- History of undescended testicle(s).
- A family history of testicular cancer may also increase risk.
- Is the most common form of cancer in men age 15 - 40.
- There are two main types of testicular cancer: Seminomas and nonseminomas
- Seminoma: The cancer is usually just in the testes.
- Nonseminoma: Nonseminoma testicular cancers include:
- Embryonal carcinoma
- Teratoma
- Yolk sac tumor
- Choriocarcinoma (rare)
Symptoms
- Discomfort, pain, in the testicle or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
- Dull ache in the back or lower abdomen
- Enlargement of a testicle or a change in the way it feels
- Excess development of breast tissue (gynecomastia).Lump or swelling in either testicle.
- Symptoms in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, abdomen, pelvis, or brain (if the cancer has spread)
Diagnosis
- A physical examination Other tests include:
- Chest x-ray
- Ultrasound of the scrotum
- Abdominal CT scan
- Blood tests for tumor markers: alpha fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta HCG), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH)
- Tissue biopsy done by removing the testicle with surgery.
Treatment
- Treatment depends on the:
- Type of tumor
- Stage of the tumor
- Extent of the disease
- Three types of treatment can be used:
- Surgical treatment removes the testicle (orchiectomy) for both seminoma and nonseminomas.
- Radiation therapy using high-dose x-rays is usually only used for treating seminomas.
- Chemotherapy uses drugs have greatly improved survival for patients with both seminomas and nonseminomas.
Prevention:
- Testicular self-examination (TSE) performed on a monthly basis.
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