The testicles are a man's sperm production factories. On average about 300 million sperm are produced by the testicals every day. Testicals also produce the male sex hormone testosterone that is responsible for a man's physical characteristics.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer that affects young men between the ages of 19 and 44. Most importantly, detected early enough it's almost always curable - with the majority of men who have treatment making a full recovery. So why are men still dying from testicular cancer every year?
Causes
It's not known why testicular cancer occurs or why one man is more likely to get it than another. It may be hereditary. If you have a close male relative with testicular cancer then you could be ten times more likely to develop it.
Men who had an undescended or partly descended testicle are five times more likely to develop testicular cancer.
Examine them monthly
After a warm bath or shower look out for:
- testicle swelling
- a pea-sized hard lump on the testicle
- a dull ache
- a sharp pain felt around the testicle or in the scrotum
If something doesn't feel right - get it checked out - don't ignore it.
Prevention approaches
Some research suggests that regular exercise may prevent testicular cancer from developing. Certainly if a boy with an undescended testicle has it corrected before the age of ten then his risk drops back down to the average risk a man has of developing testicular cancer which is about one in 450.
However, since little is known and understood about why testicular cancer develops the emphasis focuses on being more aware and examining the testicles regularly. Then, if cancer does develop it can be detected and treated early on.
Ideally self-examination is done every month. First of all, get used to what your testicles feel like normally by getting to know them. If you're not sure what they're supposed to feel like then ask your doctor to show you.
Self-examination is best done after a bath or shower when the scrotum is relaxed. It's no good examining them when you have an erection because the scrotal sac is too tight preventing you from feeling the testes properly.
Holding your scrotum in the palms of the hands, use your fingers and thumbs to examine the shape, size, consistency and smoothness of the testes. It's not unusual for one testicle to be larger than the other or for one to hang lower than the other.
Why don't men check themselves?
Some say they're embarrassed, some are frightened of finding anything wrong. Others remember sporting days where any testicular contact was associated with excruciating pain and believe quite wrongly that self-examination will be painful.
Some men leave it to their partners to take the responsibility. Often it's a woman who discovers the problem and sends her man to the doctor! Many men say they're not sure how to examine themselves or what to look out for.
If something doesn't feel right then get it checked out by your doctor, don't ignore it.
Bob Champion won the Grand National, and Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France, both after having suffered with the disease - and they didn't let it stop them achieving success after they were diagnosed.
Symptoms
- a painless lump or swelling in either testicle
- enlargement of the testicle
- a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
- a dull ache in the scrotum or the groin
- pain or discomfort in the testicle or scrotum
- a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
If you notice any of these, or if you're worried and just want some reassurance that everything is all right, then ask your doctor to check you. Don't ignore any changes or concerns.
Diagnosis and treatment
To diagnose testicular cancer your GP will examine your testicles and feel for any lumps or swellings. Your GP may need to refer you to the hospital for treatment and will arrange for an ultrasound scan which will show any changes in structure in the testicles.
If you're referred to a specialist, they may arrange for you to have an orchidectomy (removal of the testicle). The testicle is then sent to the laboratory for tissue testing. If the tumour is low grade then a surveillance policy may be adopted. If the tumour is more advanced then chemotherapy or occasionally radiotherapy may be used.
A prosthetic testicle replaces the one removed to ensure that the scrotum appears normal. Having a testicle removed shouldn't affect a man's sex life or his chances of becoming a father.
This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in May 2005.
First published in October 1997.
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TESTICULAR CANCER CLINIC AT ELLAND ROAD (Leeds United Football Club) - Clinic as part of YCR link-up...
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