What is Testicular Cancer?
What is Testicular Cancer?
It's important to be mindful of the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer, which is the most common cancer in men ages 20-34. Testicular cancer is a form a cancer that starts in the cells of a man’s testicles.
Germ cell tumors (GCT):
- Classified as either seminomas or non-seminomas.
- Seminomas tend to grow and spread more slowly than non-seminomas.
- Some testicular cancers contain both seminoma and non-seminoma cells. These mixed germ cell tumors are treated as non-seminomas because they grow and spread like non-seminomas.
Signs and Symptoms of Testicular Cancer
What are the signs or symptoms of testicular cancer?
- A painless lump in the testicle (the most common sign)
- A feeling of weight in the scrotum
- Swelling of the testicle (with or without pain)
- Pain or a dull ache in the testicle, scrotum or groin.
It is very important to note that any new or abnormal lump, or firm part of the testicle that you feel should be taken seriously. A trip to your primary care physician should be the first course of action you take. Your primary care physician will order a testicular ultrasound if they are concerned. The ultrasound will confirm if there is a solid mass in the testicle or a more benign etiology, such as a collection of fluid or blood vessels. If the ultrasound is concerning for malignancy you will be referred to a specialist called a urologist.
A blood test can be useful to help diagnose testicular tumors. Your doctor may order blood test to check for elevations in tumor markers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
Your urologist will discuss removing the testicle in order to make a diagnosis of testicular cancer. A biopsy is typically not indicated as it can spread testicular cancer. If testicular cancer is confirmed, multiple scans may be ordered to ensure the tumor has not spread.
From there, you will likely then be referred to a medical oncologist or radiation oncologist to discuss the possible need for any additional treatment. If caught early, majority of patients can be cured with surgery alone with no need for any additional chemo or radiation.
Firelands is here for you
If you, or a loved one, is worried that they might have some signs or symptoms of testicular cancer, it is important that they call their primary care physician right away. If something is seriously wrong, waiting can make the problem worse, and harder to treat. If you do not have a primary care physician, Firelands Physician Group is here to help. They have compassionate doctors located conveniently throughout the area. Learn more about the Firelands Physician Group.
