Posted in: Cancer by Dr. Tarang Krishna Posted Date: 10 Apr, 2014
Very few facts are known about Testicular Cancer. Though not a common cancer but can be dangerous if not diagnosed and treated on time. Testicular cancer is a disease in which cells become cancerous in one or more testicles. More than 90% of the cancer develops in the germ cells (cells which make sperms). There are different types of testicular cancers, but the most common ones are-
1. Seminomas:
This type of cancer tends to grow and spread more slowly than Non-Seminomas. It accounts for around 40% of all the germ cells testicular cancers.
2. Non-Seminomas:
It accounts for around 60% of all the germ cells testicular cancers.
The exact cause of cancer is not known but there are several reasons that increase the risk of developing this type of cancer:
-
Undescended testicles:
Around 3-5% of boys are born with their testicles located inside their abdomen which usually descend into the scrotum. -
Family history:
This is usually rare but having a member in the family can increase the risk. -
HIV infection:Men infected with HIV virus especially those having AIDS are at increased risk of developing this type of cancer.
-
Race:
The risk of cancer is 4 to 5 times more in white men than black men and 3 times more than Asian-American men. -
Smoking:
According to research long term smokers are twice as likely to develop cancer than non-smokers. -
Height:
No proper evidence has been collected regarding this issue but according to few studies men who are 6.1-6.3ft tall are twice as likely to develop cancer as average height.
Few of the prominent symptoms include:
- Painless lump or swelling in the testicle
- Pain or discomfort in the scrotum
- Pain in your lower abdomen
- Sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
- Feeling of being unwell and fatigue
Note that the swelling of the testicles can be due to various other reasons. For example, fluid can collect around the testicles to form a condition called Hydrocele. Or the veins around your testicles can dilate and form a lumpy growth around the testicles(Varicocele). So make sure that you consult a Doctor when you encounter any of the above mentioned symptoms. Few of the common tests that are done to detect the presence of cancer are:
- Scrotal Ultrasound
- Blood test
- Biopsy
- And other tests like X-ray, MRI etc.
Though testicular cancer cannot be usually prevented but it can always be diagnosed at an early stage and treated. Testicles should be analysed on a regular basis. The best time to check it is after a warm shower as the scrotal skin is most relaxed then. So any swelling or abnormalities in and around that area can be found. Remember cancer is a disease which is curable if detected early!