Testicular cancer is an uncontrolled division of cells in the testicles, a pair of oval glands of the male reproductive system. The testicles, also called testes, hang behind the penis in a sack called the scrotum. Testicular cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer. But unlike many other cancers, it occurs primarily in men under 35 years of age. Research shows that the incidence of this type of cancer may be slowly rising.
A painless lump or area of hardness in one testicle is the most common symptom of testicular cancer. Other signs may sometimes include back pain or tenderness of the breasts. Doctors advise young men to conduct a testicular self-examination every month to detect lumps or abnormal growths. A doctor may examine a lump using ultrasound (high frequency sound waves). Physicians also perform blood tests to detect certain chemicals that testicular cancer cells release. These chemicals, which include human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP), can be measured in tiny amounts.
Doctors usually begin treatment of testicular cancer by surgically removing the affected testicle. A pathologist (expert on tissue changes) examines the tissue under a microscope to confirm that cancer is present and to determine certain properties that affect treatment choices. Surgery may also include removal of lymph nodes to check if cancer has spread. Testicular cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body, and surgery usually results in a complete cure. A patient is considered completely cured if blood tests after surgery find no trace of hCG or AFP. The removal of one testicle does not usually interfere with a man’s ability to have sexual relations, and many patients can still have children.
If the cancer has spread beyond the testicle, surgery may be followed with radiation or chemotherapy (drugs that kill cancer cells). One type of testicular cancer, called seminoma, is treatable with radiation. Another type, called nonseminoma, is best treated with chemotherapy. Even patients whose cancer has spread have an excellent chance of being cured.
