A friend was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer. What are the signs of this cancer, can it be prevented, and how dangerous is it?
A: Testicular cancer, although rare, is the most common cancer in men aged 15-35. There are currently approximately 5,500 new cases per year with the numbers increasing. Children with an undescended testicle may be at a slightly higher risk for developing cancer as a young adult and require urgent consultation with a pediatric urologist.
A normal testicle has a slightly elliptical shape and is generally smooth. One can sometimes feel what is called the epididymus, which is a tube that runs along the length of the testicle. The first sign of testicular cancer is often a small painless bump. There may as well be a dull aching or sense of heaviness on the affected side. In about 10% of patients, acute pain is the earliest sign, and in about 10% of patients the presenting complaint is due to already distant spread of the cancer.
Treatment begins with removal of the affected testicle, followed by various regimes depending on the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Before 1970, the mortality rate from this disease was over 50%. With newer treatments, the survival rate is now over 90%.
Young men in general tend to see themselves as healthy and invulnerable to disease. Although the risk of testicular cancer is low, performing self-exams can be a window to adopting a general attitude of prevention and health-oriented behavior. One’s early 20’s is a also good time to have a lipid panel drawn and to begin blood pressure screening, especially if there is a positive family history of cardiovascular events.
