Cause and Prevention of Testicular Cancer

Researchers study patterns of cancer in the population to discover whether some people are more likely than others to get certain cancers. If they can learn what causes the disease, they may be able to suggest ways to prevent it.

Although any man can get testicular cancer, the disease is rare. It accounts for only about 1 percent of all cancers in American men. Although most other cancers affect mostly older people, testicular cancer usually occurs in young men. It is more common in white men than in black.

We know that testicular cancer is not contagious. No one can "catch" it from another person. However, doctors do not know exactly what causes this disease. They can seldom explain why one person gets it while another doesn't, but research does show that some men are more likely to develop testicular cancer. For example, the risk is higher than average for boys born with their testicles in the lower abdomen rather than in the scrotum. The cancer risk for boys with this condition (called undescended testicles or cryptorchidism) is increased if the problem is not corrected in early childhood. Research has also shown that testicular cancer is sometimes linked to certain other rare conditions in which the testicles do not develop normally.

Some men whose mothers took a hormone called DES (diethylstilbestrol) during pregnancy to prevent miscarriage have testicular abnormalities. But scientists do not know whether prenatal exposure to DES (or any other female hormone) increases the risk of testicular cancer.

Some patients with testicular cancer have a history of injury to the scrotum. But no one knows whether such an injury can actually cause cancer. Many doctors think such an injury simply calls attention to a tumor that was already growing.

Detection and Diagnosis

Every man can help himself by doing testicular self-examination (TSE) every month, by getting regular checkups that include a testicular exam, and by seeing a doctor promptly if he notices any symptoms of testicular disease.

Researchers are looking for additional tumor markers that may be present in abnormal amounts in the blood or urine of a person with very early testicular cancer. If such markers are found, it might be possible to detect testicular cancer even before any symptoms are noticed. Several such markers have been studied, and research is continuing.

Treatment of Testicular Cancer

Researchers are looking for treatment methods that are more effective and easier for patients to tolerate. They are studying new drugs and drug combinations, varied doses, and different treatment schedules.

When research shows that a new treatment method has promise, the method is used to treat cancer patients in clinical trials. These trials are designed to answer scientific questions and find out whether a new approach is both safe and effective. Patients who take part in research make an important contribution to medical science and may have the first chance to benefit from improved treatment methods.

Patients with testicular cancer are encouraged to consider participating in a trial and should discuss this option with their doctor. The National Cancer Institute booklet, What Are Clinical Trials All About? is for patients who may be interested in taking part in clinical research.

One way to learn about clinical trials is through Physician Data Query (PDQ), a computerized resource of cancer treatment information. Developed by the National Cancer Institute, PDQ contains an up-to-date list of trials all over the country. Doctors can obtain an access code and use a personal computer to get PDQ information, or they can use the services of a medical library. Also, the Cancer Information Service, at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), can provide PDQ information to doctors, patients, and the public.

There is much yet to learn about what causes testicular cancer and how it might be prevented. Our understanding is growing, and as new knowledge is gained, we hope that fewer men will develop the disease. At the same time, better methods of detection and treatment already have contributed to greatly increased survival rates for men with testicular cancer. The remarkable improvements in dealing with this disease may, in fact, lead the way in other types of cancer.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.