What is testicular cancer?

Testicle pain or pain around the stomach and scrotum needs medical attention. Testicular pain may also be a symptom of testicular cancer. Dr. J.B. Sharma, Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology with Delhi based Action Cancer Hospital explains what is testicular cancer, signs and symptoms with testicular cancer, causes and types of testicular cancer and who are prone to it. He also explains the treatments and prevention for testicular cancer.

Dr. J.B. Sharma explains in simple words, "Testicular cancer happens when normal cells in one or both testicles change into abnormal cells and grow out of control. The testicles are found inside a skin sac called the scrotum. The testicles make sperm and male hormones." Hence it is important to check with the doctor if you experience sudden and prolong testicular pain.

Signs and Symptoms of Testicular Cancer:

"The first symptom of testicular cancer is often a lump or swelling in the scrotum that is not painful," says the oncologist. Lumps and swellings should not be ignored; other symptoms can include:
"A dull ache or heavy feeling in the low belly, or around the anus or scrotum Pain in the testicles or scrotum which generally occurs in about 10 percent of men"

Causes of Testicular Cancer:

- Cryptorchidism, or undescended testicle
- Family History
- Age
- Body size

Types of Testicular Cancer:

There are two types of testicular cancer, Dr. Sharma takes us through it and explains in details, "More than 90 percent of testicular cancers develop from germ cell- a type of cell in the testicle. Thus, they are called testicular germ cell tumours which are mainly of two types - seminoma and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs). Approximately two-thirds of all testicular germ cell tumours are NSGCGTs and the remaining are seminomas. Both the tumours occur in men between the ages of 15 and 35 years old, although seminomas occur in a slightly older group of men."

Testicular Cancer in India:

"Testicular cancer accounts for 1 percent of total cancers in men," says the oncologist. "Though there is no concrete data available for India, one population based cancer registry, from Chennai (Individual Registry Data: 2001-2003) showed 1.2 cases per one lakh population of India are affected by testicular cancer."

But he goes on further to explain who are prone to testicular cancer, "There is a bimodal distribution of these tumours; they are found in boys who undergo early puberty- generally in the age group of 6 to 10 years - and in men between the age of 26 to 35 who present with a testicular mass, gynecomastia, impotence, and loss of libido."

Treatments for Testicular Cancer:

Diagnosing testicular cancer and studying the staging is important, Dr. Sharma informs, "Before the start of treatment, cancer staging is done to find out if the cancer has spread beyond the testicles to other parts of the body. Staging usually involves blood tests, CT scans, or other imaging tests."

Only after staging we look at the various treatments that are applicable for testicular cancer, "Removing the testicle is the first part of treatment. Further treatment depends a lot on the type and stage of the cancer, and on where it has spread. Some men whose testicular cancer is small might not need any further treatment after their testicle is removed."

Treatments for Testicular Cancer:

Other men with testicular cancer might have to undergo one or more of the following treatments:

"Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the term used to describe the usage of a group of medicines that kill cancer cells.
Radiation therapy: Radiation kills cancer cells.
Surgery: Testicular cancer is sometimes treated with surgery to remove nearby lymph nodes, which are bean-shaped internal organs. This surgery can help prevent the spread of testicular cancer in the body. A doctor might also do surgery to remove a mass in another part of the body if the cancer has spread."

Testicular Cancer Prevention:

Dr. Sharma lays bare the truth about testicular cancer, "As such, there are no preventive measures for testicular cancer. Therefore, monthly testicular self-examinations are recommended to detect the disease at an early stage."