Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system.

In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. It is most common among males aged 15–40 years, particularly those in their mid-twenties. Testicular cancer has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers: in excess of 90 percent; essentially 100 percent if it has not metastasized. Even for the relatively few cases in which malignant cancer has spread widely, chemotherapy offers a cure rate of at least 85 percent today.

Symptoms may include one or more of the following:

* a lump in one testis or a hardening of one of the testicles
* abnormal sensitivity (either numbness or pain)
* loss of sexual activity or interest
* sexual withdrawal
* build-up of fluid in the scrotum or tunica vaginalis, known as a hydrocele
* a dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin, sometimes described as a “heavy” sensation
* lumbago – lower back pain
* blood in semen

The three basic types of treatment are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Surgery is performed by urologists; radiation therapy is administered by radiation oncologists; and chemotherapy is the work of medical oncologists.

In most patients with testicular cancer, the disease is cured readily with minimal long-term morbidity.

A man with one remaining testis can lead a normal life, because the remaining testis takes up the burden of testosterone production and will generally have adequate fertility.

Lance Armstrong, American cyclist, developed testicular cancer in 1996. Following treatment, he won the Tour de France several years running. He founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation which is a general advocacy group for cancer prevention and survival.

Unfortunately, testicular cancer is a type of cancer that can’t easily be prevented. There are simply no proven prevention methods.

With most cancers, the best method of prevention is to avoid the risk factors. There is no way to avoid the risk factors for testicular cancer because most are out of the person’s control, like age, race, and conditions occurring at birth.

Lance Armstrong Foundation

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