Testicular cancer may be rare, but it’s the most common form of cancer facing young men.
It’s also one of the most treatable cancers if it’s caught early. Survival rates are high, with 95 per cent of men under age 45 surviving at least five years after diagnosis, European data shows.
But because there are few symptoms, men may not realise they have testicular cancer, leading to delays in diagnosis that can make treatment more complicated.
Part of the problem is that “there is no self-examination culture” due to social “taboos,” said Dr Hendrik Van Poppel, a urologist on the board of the European Association of Urology (EAU) and co-chair of the inequalities network hosted by the European Cancer Organisation.
With Testicular Cancer Awareness Month in full swing, here’s what you need to know to take charge of your health.
Who is at risk of testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer affects about one in every 250 men in Europe, and it’s the most common cancer among those under age 45. Diagnoses peak in the late 20s and early 30s.
Some men are at higher risk of testicular cancer, including those with a family history of it, men with HIV or fertility problems, white men, and those with cryptorchidism.
Cryptorchidism is a condition where the testicles do not descend into the scrotum, which they normally do around the time a baby boy is born. About 5 to 10 per cent of men with testicular cancer had the condition, which can be fixed with surgery, as a child.
What are the signs of testicular cancer?
Van Poppel told Euronews Health that young men and teenage boys should do self-examinations while in a warm shower or bath, when the scrotum is relaxed. Check each testicle separately for lumps or changes.
According to the EAU, most changes you might find during a self-exam are not cancer. But if you find a small, painless lump in the testicle it could be serious, so follow up with a doctor.
Other warning signs include a testicle getting bigger or painful, or the scrotum feeling firm, hard, heavy, or achy, the UK National Health Service (NHS) said.
Pain in your back or lower stomach, losing weight, having a cough or a hard time breathing or swallowing, and a sore chest can all be symptoms as well.
What is life like after a testicular cancer diagnosis?
Treatment typically involves surgery to remove the testicle, sometimes followed by chemotherapy or radiation. Some people opt to get an artificial testicle put in to replace the one they lost in surgery, according to the NHS.
Some testicular cancer treatments can affect fertility, meaning it could be harder to have children. Before beginning treatment, you may want to consider storing and banking your sperm, which could be used for fertility treatments in the future.
If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it can be harder to treat. In that case, doctors may offer more intensive treatments or palliative care to manage your symptoms as long as possible.
The bottom line, Van Poppel said, is that testicular cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence.
“Many of these guys who are discovered late, even metastatic, can be cured,” Van Poppel said. “But the main goal should be timely detection”.
