Understanding What Testicular Cancer Is

By Toni Vang


Women and men of different ages are affected by different kinds of cancers today. Testicular cancer is specific to men and occurs in the testicles, even though it may spread to other organs inside the body. Worldwide statistics from 2013 indicate that over 8, 300 people died as a result of this condition. The deaths recorded in 2013 indicated an increase of 1, 300 deaths from 1990. In the United States, 8000 are diagnosed with the condition every year while 2000 are diagnosed with it in the UK.

The high cure rate of the disease makes the scary news a little bearable. The survival rate after five years is 95% on average. The survival rate after 5 years is 99% if the cancerous cells have not metastasized and 96% if it has not. Cure rate is currently at 80% with chemotherapy.

The area of origin of the condition in the body determines the name it is given. Because of that, even if cancerous cells spread to others parts of the body like the lungs, it is still called and treated as cancer of the testes. Research findings indicate that one out of 200 males is at risk of developing the disease. The cancer is the most prevalent one among males between the age of 20 and 39. Males below 15 years rarely develop the condition.

The signs and symptoms of this condition are normally very diverse, but the most characteristic one is a lump inside the testes. Routine screening for the disorder is discouraged, although monthly self-examinations are encouraged. This is more encouraged for people with a family that has a history of the disease. Young men are at a higher risk of developing the problem and should perform a self-examination more often, normally at monthly intervals.

Normally lumps occur in one testis and my come with pain or not. Presence of lumps makes doctors to conduct further tests. Additional symptoms that occur commonly include painful scrotum or abdomen, breast enlargement, the scrotum feeling heavy, and lower back pain. Signs come one at a time or several at once. Cancerous cells may spread to the lungs and when that happens, shortness of breath and lumps in the neck may be experienced.

Symptoms can sometimes be very confusing especially since epididymitis, varicocele, and hematocele have the same signs. Lump evaluation is performed through scrotal ultrasound. The type of lump is determined by the characteristics identified by the ultrasound. Location and size of tumor are among the characteristics identified.

Extent of disease and location of metastases is done through a CT scan. Blood tests are also used for identifying the disease. Bloodstream has specific proteins that serve as tumor markers. Blood tests identify these tumor markers. Human chorionic gonadotropin, Alpha-fetoprotein, and LDH-1 are among the commonest proteins used as tumor markers in detecting the disease through blood test. Blood tests may not be very efficient.

Three options for treatment are available. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the major options. The treatments are performed by different professionals. Radiation therapy is performed by radiation oncologists, surgery is done by urologists, while chemotherapy is carried out by medical oncologists. Success is dependent on the time treatment is commenced. Starting treatment early enough assures one of higher success from the treatments.




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