Testicular
Cancer
Testicular Cancer Causes and Risk Factors
Testicular cancer runs in families. Young Caucasian men are at
greatest risk for developing testicular cancer. Hispanics,
Asians, and Native Americans are at medium risk, and
African-Americans are at very low risk.
Having an undescended
testicle is the major risk factor. About 50 percent of men
with testicular cancer have experienced trauma to their
testes; however, it is not known whether trauma plays a causal
role or whether it only brings attention to a pre-existing
condition. Other factors that are possibly involved include
having had the mumps, which often affects the testicles,
having been born to a mother who was given estrogen or had
X-rays during pregnancy and delivery, and having certain rare
conditions affecting the sexual organs.
Testicular Cancer Facts
Cancer of the testes, the male reproductive glands, is the
most common cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 35. There
are different types of testicular cancer, most of which
involve the sperm-producing cells. About 6,000 new cases are
diagnosed in the United States each year, but with early
detection and treatment, the cure rate for testicular cancer
has increased greatly, to as high as 96 percent.
Testicular Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
Because of the increased risk from an undescended testicle,
boys with this problem should have the condition surgically
corrected before they reach the age of three. When corrected
at a later age, the condition continues to pose higher risk.
Testicular cancer is very curable when found early. Your best
protection is monthly self-examination, especially if you are
in a high-risk group. Self-examination involves rolling each
testicle gently between the thumb and fingers of both hands,
and it is best done after a warm bath or shower. If you notice
hard lumps or nodules, contact your doctor immediately.
Testicular Cancer Symptoms
There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of
testicular cancer. A painless bump on the testicle or slight
enlargement of a testicle and change in its consistency may be
the first sign of a problem. Pain does not usually occur until
a later stage of the disease, but a dull ache in the lower
abdomen and groin, accompanied by a feeling of heaviness, may
be an early warning sign.
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