Testicular Cancer Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - How is testicular cancer detected? What are testicular cancer symptoms and warning signs? on MedicineNet
How is testicular cancer detected? What are symptoms of testicular cancer?
Most testicular cancers are found by men themselves. Also, doctors generally
examine the testicles during routine physical exams. Between regular checkups,
if a man notices anything unusual about his testicles, he should talk with his
doctor. Men should see a doctor if they notice any of the following symptoms:
a painless lump or swelling in a testicle
pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum
any enlargement of a testicle or change in the way it
feels
a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
a dull ache in the lower abdomen, back, or groin
a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
These symptoms can be caused by cancer or by other conditions. It is
important to see a doctor to determine the cause of any of these symptoms.
How is testicular cancer diagnosed?
To help find the cause of symptoms, the doctor evaluates a man's general
health. The doctor also performs a physical exam and may order laboratory and
diagnostic tests. These tests include:
Blood tests that measure the levels of tumor markers. Tumor markers are substances often found in higher-than-normal amounts when cancer is present. Tumor markers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (ßHCG), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) may suggest the presence of a testicular tumor, even if it is too small to be detected by physical exams or imaging tests.
Ultrasound, a test in
which high-frequency sound waves are bounced off internal organs and tissues.
Their echoes produce a picture called a sonogram. Ultrasound of the scrotum can
show the presence and size of a mass in the testicle. It is also helpful in
ruling out other conditions, such as swelling due to infection or a collection
of fluid unrelated to cancer.
Biopsy (microscopic
examination of testicular tissue by a pathologist) to determine whether cancer
is present. In nearly all cases of suspected cancer, the entire affected
testicle is removed through an incision in the groin. This procedure is called
radical inguinal orchiectomy. In rare cases (for example, when a man has only
one testicle), the surgeon performs an inguinal biopsy, removing a sample of
tissue from the testicle through an incision in the groin and proceeding with
orchiectomy
only if the pathologist finds cancer cells. (The
surgeon does not cut through the scrotum to remove tissue. If the problem is
cancer, this procedure could cause the disease to spread.)
If testicular cancer is found, more tests are needed to find out if the
cancer has spread from the testicle to other parts of the body. Determining the
stage (extent) of the disease helps the doctor to plan appropriate treatment.
A hernia is an opening or weakness in the muscular structure of the wall of the abdomen. This defect causes a bulging of the abdominal wall. Symptoms of a hernia include pain or discomfort and a localized swelling somewhere on the surface of the abdomen or in the groin area.
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Testicular pain, or pain in the testicle or testicles are caused by a variety of diseases or conditions such as testicular trauma, testicular torsion, testicular cancer, epididymitis, and orchitis. Common symptoms of pain in the testicle or testicles are abdominal pain, urinary pain or incontinence, fever, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the scrotum or testicle. Treatment depends on the cause of the testicular pain or pain in the testicles.
Gynecomastia, an enlargement of the gland tissue in the male breast is the caused by an imbalance of hormones. Certain medical conditions may also lead to gynecomastia such as cirrhosis, malnutrition, disorders of the male sex organs, kidney failure, thyroid disorders, and medications. Gynecomastia is generally treated with medication, and if necessary surgery.
Hydrocele is a collection of clear fluid in a thin walled sack that also contains the testicle. Hydroceles are more common in males than females. There are two types of hydroceles: 1) communicating and 2)non-communicating. Hydroceles present at birth may resolve on their own. Hydroceles that appear in the teen or adult years may require surgery.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Men's health is an important component to a happy lifestyle and healthy relationships. Eating healthy, exercise, managing stress, and knowing when to have medical tests for a particular age is key to disease prevention in men.
Most often, caregivers take care of other adults who are ill or disabled. Less often, caregivers are grandparents raising their grandchildren. The majority of caregivers are middle-aged women. Caregiving can be very stressful, so it's important to recognize when it's putting to much strain on you and to take steps to prevent/relieve stress.
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