How to prevent testicular cancer

Patients’ testicles with testicular cancer have a great chance of cure when it is detected early. In many cases, the diagnosis is delayed up to 5 months from the initial symptoms, in part, due to ignorance of the symptoms of this type of cancer.

What is?

This cancer is a malignant tumor that forms in the tissues of the testicle (one of the two egg-shaped glands found inside the scrotum that produces sperm and male hormones). In the early stages, it is curable by surgery.

In Whom Is It Most Frequent?

Testicular cancer usually occurs in men between the ages of 15 and 34.

What Are The Main Types Of Testicular Cancer?

The two main types of testicular cancer are seminomas (cancers that grow slowly and are sensitive to radiation therapy) and nonseminomas (cancers that grow more quickly than seminomas).

With What Frequency And Mortality Do It Occur?

According to figures from the National Institute of Cancerology, it corresponds to 507 new cases per year and a mortality of 72 cases also per year.

What Are The Most Frequent Symptoms?

The tumor usually presents as a painless unilateral scrotal mass (55%) or as an incidental finding (<5%). In 20% of cases, it is associated with pain as the first symptom. A testicular mass should be considered a tumor until proven otherwise. Other symptoms are:

• n A lump in either testicle
• An enlarged (swollen) testicle
• Pain in the testicle
• A dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin
• Sudden fluid retention in the scrotum
• Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• A shrinking testicle

What Prognosis Do You Have?

Testicular cancer cure rates are excellent. The factors that have contributed to this cure have been: early detection, adequate classification at the time of diagnosis, and the therapeutic alternatives that exist.

What treatment do you have?

Timely treatment based on surgery and a combination of chemotherapy agents with or without radiotherapy; associated with strict monitoring and salvage therapies.

Testicle Self-Exam

• Take the test during or immediately after a hot shower or bath. The heat relaxes the skin on the scrotum, making it easier to feel anything unusual.
• Use both hands to examine each testicle. Put your index and ring fingers under the testicle and thumbs on top. Roll the testicle between your thumbs and fingers. (It is normal for testicles to be different sizes.)
• As you feel the testicle, you may feel a cord-like structure on top and at the back of the testicle. Stores and transports the sperm. Don’t confuse it with a lump.
• Look for any lumps. The bumps can be the size of a pea or larger and are usually not painful. If you notice a lump, see your doctor.
• Although the left and right testicles are usually different sizes, they should not change the size they were before. If you notice that any of them have changed in size, see your doctor.

You may like to read Five ways to prevent prostate cancer