Symptoms in testicular cancer

The most common sign of testicular cancer is a usually painless palpable mass or swelling in a part of the testicle. However, most of the palpable swellings and masses in the testis are not cancer.

A cancerous mass can be quite small or much larger, less than 1 cm. It is not usually painful, but some men may experience mild pain in the damaged testicles or lower abdomen. You may feel that your testicles and scrotum are heavy. The scrotum is a skin sac surrounding the testicles.

Sometimes testicular cancer cells can spread to lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen (a network of glands throughout the body). This can cause back pain. 

The cells may also spread to the lymph nodes in the middle of your chest, between your lungs. This can cause coughing, difficulty breathing or swallowing, and chest swelling. When testicular cancer spreads, it can form masses in other parts of the body, such as around the collarbone or neck. These masses are lymph nodes containing cancer cells. 

Although testicular cancer can also spread to other organs in the body, it is not seen very often.

Early detection in testicular cancer

Cancers that are detected early are much easier to treat. Being aware of how your testicles look and feel allows you to know when a change occurs. If you notice any changes that are not normal for you, contact your doctor. 

You do not need to check your testicles every day or every week. It will be sufficient to perform this check from time to time. The easiest way to check the testicles is after a warm shower or bath, with the scrotum relaxed. Grasp your scrotum with your palm. Then examine your testicles using the fingers of both hands as well as your thumb.

Gently feel each testis. Any noticeable change in size or weight could mean something is wrong. Normally you should feel a soft duct in the upper back of the testis. The testis itself should be flat, free of lumps or swelling. If you notice a swelling in your testicle, make an appointment to have it checked out by your doctor as soon as possible. 

It is unusual for cancer to develop in both testicles at the same time. Therefore, it would be a rational way to compare both testicles.

Types of testicular cancer

There are 2 main types of testicular cancer, seminoma and non-seminoma (non-seminoma). They develop from germ cells in the testicles. Approximately 40-45 (40-45%) of 100 testicular cancers are completely seminoma. Most of the rest are mixtures of different types of nonseminomatous testicular cancer. All these testicular cancers are treated in more or less the same way. 

Lymphoma is another type of cancer most common in the testicles of men over the age of 50. If you have been diagnosed with lymphoma in the testicles, then the treatment differs.

Testicular cancer risks and causes

It is not known exactly what causes this disease, but there are several factors that can increase the risk of developing the disease.

Failure to correct the undescended testis until the age of 11 increases the risk of testicular cancer in men. Having had an inflammation of the testicles called orchitis also increases your risk of developing cancer. 
 

There is a small risk for men experiencing fertility problems.

Other risk factors

Having a father or brother with testicular cancer increases the risk of developing cancer. Researchers think that 1 in 5 testicular cancers (20%) are caused by inherited gene changes (faulty genes).

Ethnicity also influences the risk of developing cancer. in the United States; The diagnosis of testicular cancer is 5 times more common in white men than in blacks. In Great Britain, it is more common in white men than in men from other ethnic groups. The reason for this is unknown.