Testicles are two round glands located in the scrotum that are part of the male reproductive system. They produce male hormones and sperm. Testicular cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the testicles. The National Cancer Institute estimated that in 2009, 8,400 new cases of testicular cancer would be diagnosed in the United States, and approximately 380 deaths would occur due to the disease.
Types
There are two main types of testicular cancer. They are split up according to the characteristics of the cells, and are classified as either seminomas or nonseminomas. Within these two main categories are various subtypes.
Seminomas include classic types, anaplastic types or spermatocytic types. Nonseminomas include teratomas, embryonal carcinomas, choriocarcinoma and yolk sac tumors. Seminomas account for nearly 40 percent of testicular cancers, while nonseminomas make up the rest.
Testicular cancers can also be made up of both types of cancers.
Risk Factors and Symptoms
Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer in men from the ages of 15 and 34, but most often occurs in men between the ages of 20 and 39. Risk factors for this disease include having a family or personal history of testicular cancer, having an undescended testicle and having any congenital abnormalities.
A lump or swelling in the testicle, pain in the testicle, the abrupt appearance of fluid in the scrotum and heaviness in the scrotum can all be symptoms of testicular cancer. These may also be signs of other problems, so a doctor needs to examine the affected areas and run any appropriate tests in order to get an accurate diagnosis.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of testicular cancer is usually obtained by doing blood tests that measure tumor markers, doing ultrasounds and performing biopsies. If the tests show that cancer is present, more tests need to be done to examine whether the cancer has spread and, if so, how far. This is called staging. Treatment will often depend on the stage of the cancer, the type and patient characteristics like age and overall heatlh.
Treatment
The two main types of testicular cancer act very differently from each other, and are treated as such. Seminomas are more radiation-sensitive. Nonseminomas grow and spread faster than seminomas. If the cancer contains both cell types, doctors will treat it like it is a nonseminoma.
The three types of treatment for testicular cancer include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. More than 95 percent of testicular cancers can be cured, but the disease responds better to treatment and has a higher likelihood of being cured if it is caught early.
Fertility
If you are diagnosed with testicular cancer, the treatments may impair fertility, so it is important to discuss options with your doctor. Banking sperm prior to any treatments will preserve your fertility for the future, so it needs to be done before any treatment starts.
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