Testicular cancer diagnosis

Testicular cancer is a rare, highly treatable cancer, even if it has spread outside the testicle. Depending on the type and stage of testicular cancer, the patient will be treated with different methods.

Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include:
A lump that is getting bigger and bigger in one of the testicles; A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum; There is a dull pain in the abdomen or groin; There is fluid in the scrotum; Pain or discomfort in the testicles or scrotum; Enlarged or painful breasts; Backache ; Cancer usually affects only one testicle. So see your doctor early if you have any symptoms of pain, swelling, or lumps in your testicles or groin, especially if these signs and symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks.

Currently, doctors do not know the cause of testicular cancer. However, testicular cancer occurs when healthy cells in the testicles mutate.
Almost all testicular cancers start in germ cells (these are the cells in the testicles that make immature sperm). What causes germ cells to become abnormal and develop into cancer is currently unknown.

The following factors can increase the risk of testicular cancer:
Cryptorchidism: In a fetus, the testicles are located in the abdomen. Before labor, this organ will move gradually through the inguinal canal down to the scrotum. Cryptorchidism occurs when it fails to descend from the abdomen to the scrotum. Because the temperature in the abdomen is higher than the temperature in the scrotum, the testicles lying in the abdomen are prone to degeneration, causing infertility. It also increases the risk of testicular cancer. The risk remains elevated even after the testicle has been surgically moved down into the scrotum. Testicular growth abnormalities: There are many causes of abnormal testicles, such as Klinefelter syndrome, which can increase the risk of testicular cancer. Family history: If family members have had testicular cancer, you may have an increased risk of developing it. Age: Testicular cancer affects teenagers and young men, especially those between the ages of 15 and 35. However, it can occur at any age. Ethnicity: Testicular cancer is more common in white men than in black men.

In some cases, men accidentally or discovered when going to a health check-up, found a tumor in the testicle. In other cases, your doctor may find a tumor during a physical exam. To determine if the lump is testicular cancer, your doctor may order some tests such as:
4.1. Can ultrasound detect testicular cancer? Testicular ultrasound uses sound waves to create images. During the ultrasound, you will lie on your back with your legs spread wide. The doctor will apply a gel to the scrotum to help clear the ultrasound image. A hand-held transducer is moved through the scrotum to create an ultrasound image.
Ultrasound helps the doctor determine the nature of the testicular tumor, such as whether the tumor is solid or filled with fluid. The ultrasound also tells the doctor whether the tumor is inside or outside the testicle.
4.2. Blood tests Your doctor may order blood tests to identify cancer markers in your blood. Cancer markers are substances that are normally present in your blood, but their levels can be increased in some cases of disease, including testicular cancer. A high level of a cancer marker in your blood doesn't mean you have cancer for sure, but it can help your doctor guide the diagnosis.
4.3. Surgery to remove one testicle If it is certain that the tumor is cancerous, orchiectomy may be indicated. The removed testicle will be analyzed to determine if the tumor is cancerous and, if so, what type of cancer it is.
4.3.1. Determine type of cancer The testicles that are removed or biopsied will be analyzed to determine the type of cancer. Type of testicular cancer to help determine treatment and prognosis of the disease, in general, there are 2 types of testicular cancer as follows:
Seminoma: Is a germ cell tumor of the testicle, Malignant and treatable tumors. Seminoma tumors occur in all age groups, but if an older man has testicular cancer, he or she is more likely to develop testicular cyst. Nonseminoma: These are cancers that are not seminoma, usually found in men at a young age. Nonseminoma tumors tend to develop in young men and spread rapidly. Some types of Nonseminoma tumors such as adenocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, teratoma, and yolk sac tumor. 4.3.2. Cancer Staging Once the doctor is sure you have cancer, the next step is to determine the stage of testicular cancer. To determine if cancer has spread beyond the testicle, some of the following tests may be performed:
Computed tomography (CT) scans to look for signs that the cancer has spread Broad Blood tests to check for elevated cancer markers can help doctors understand if cancer is likely to remain in a person's body after the testicle is removed. Stages of testicular cancer are indicated with Roman numerals ranging from 0 to III, with the lowest stages indicating that the cancer is confined to the area around the testicle. By stage III, the cancer has advanced and may have spread to other areas of the body, such as the lungs.

Treatments for testicular cancer depend on several factors, including the type and stage of the cancer, your overall health, and your wishes.
Surgery is indicated in the following cases:
Orchiectomy is the mainstay of treatment for nearly all stages and types of cancer. To remove the testicle, the surgeon makes an incision in the groin and removes the entire testicle through the opening. The doctor will then place a saline-filled prosthesis that can be placed into the scrotum. In the case of early stage testicular cancer, surgical removal of the testicle is the only treatment. Surgery to remove nearby lymph nodes is done through an incision in the abdomen. The surgeon will take care to avoid damaging the nerves surrounding the lymph nodes, but in some cases damage to the nerve may be unavoidable. Damaged nerves can make it difficult to ejaculate, but will affect an erection. Radiation therapy:
Radiation therapy uses powerful beams of energy like X-rays to kill cancer cells. During radiation therapy, the patient lies on a table and a large machine moves around the body to aim the energy beams at a predetermined point on the patient's body. Radiation therapy can be given alone or after the patient has had an orchiectomy. Side effects of radiation therapy include nausea, fatigue, skin redness, and irritation in the abdomen and groin area. Radiation therapy also has the potential to decrease sperm count and affect fertility in some men, so it's important to consult your doctor about sperm preservation options before starting radiation therapy. treat.

MORE: Sperm cryopreservation: Who should do it?

Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy treatment uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs travel throughout the body to kill cancer cells that have spread from the original tumor. Chemotherapy is indicated alone to treat or before or after lymphadenectomy. The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the specific drugs the patient is taking. Common side effects include fatigue, nausea, hair loss, and an increased risk of infection. Chemotherapy can also lead to infertility in some men, which can be permanent in some cases, so patients should be thoroughly consulted by their doctor about sperm preservation options before starting the procedure. chemotherapy head. To prevent testicular cancer, men, especially those between the ages of 15 and 35, should self-examine their testicles by gently manipulating the scrotum at least once a month. This is a simple and easy to use tracking method.

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