Testicular Cancer Sioux City | Siouxland Urology North Sioux City

What is Testicular Cancer?

Testicular cancer starts in the testicles, which are parts of the male reproductive system. The testicles are two small glands inside the scrotum, the pouch of skin below the penis. They make hormones and sperm. Testicular cancer is rare, but it is one of the most common cancers in younger men between ages 15 and 35. Overall, testicular cancer accounts for only about 1% of all cancers in men.

Types of Testicular Cancer

There are two main types of testicular cancer:

Seminoma is the most common type of testicular cancer. It tends to grow slowly.

Nonseminoma is a faster growing cancer that comes in different forms: embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac carcinoma, choriocarcinoma and teratoma.

Your doctor will determine exactly what type of cancer you have through testing.

Signs and Symptoms

Some common signs of testicular cancer include:

A lump or swelling in a testicle
A feeling of heaviness or achiness in the lower abdomen or scrotum
Fluid build up in the scrotum
Dull pain in the lower abdomen or groin
Sudden collection of blood in the scrotum
Enlargement or tenderness of breast tissue

If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away for an exam. Catching testicular cancer early greatly improves treatment success.

Risk Factors

Certain factors can increase your risk of developing testicular cancer:

Undescended testicle – A testicle that hasn’t moved down into the scrotum before birth
Family history – Having a close relative with testicular cancer
HIV infection
Personal history – Having had testicular cancer before
Age – Most common in younger men

Diagnosis

To diagnose testicular cancer, your doctor will:

Perform a physical exam of your testicles
Order imaging tests like an ultrasound, CT scan or MRI
Draw blood to test for tumor markers that can indicate cancer
Take a biopsy to examine testicular tissue for cancer cells

These tests will help determine if you have testicular cancer and if so, what type you have.

Stages of Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is categorized into stages based on how far it has spread:

Cancer is only in the testicle.

Cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the abdomen.

Cancer has spread beyond the lymph nodes to the lungs, liver, etc.

Knowing the stage helps determine the right treatment approach.

Treatment

Common treatments for testicular cancer include:

Surgery to remove the affected testicle and possibly lymph nodes
Chemotherapy to kill cancer cells using special drugs
Radiation aimed at cancer cells to destroy them
Surveillance, which involves close monitoring without immediate further treatment

Your doctor will recommend the best treatment plan based on your specific case. The good news is that testicular cancer is highly treatable, especially when detected early on.