Testicular cancer occurs in the male gonads or testis.
Structure:
The testicles are part of the male reproductive system. These two small egg shaped gland and they are held in a sac (scrotum) below the penis.
The testicles have a firm, slightly spongy feel. The firmness of the testicle should be the same throughout. The size of the testicles should also be about the same, though one may be larger than the other. At the top and outside edge is a rubbery, tube-like structure called the epididymis.
The testicles are where sperm mature. The testicles also make male hormones such as testosterone. This hormone controls the sex drive in men. It also starts the growth of muscle, bone and body hair.
Seminoma: This type grows slowly and contains only seminoma cells. There are two subtypes: classic and spermatocytic.
Nonseminoma: This can involve various kinds of cancer cell. There are several subtypes, including embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac carcinoma, chiorcarcinoma, and teratoma.
The other cell tumour includes stromal cell tumour, leydig cell tumour.
A pinless lump or swelling on either testicle.
Pain, discomfrt,numbness in a testicle or the scrotum is found
Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. One testicle might differ from the other testicle.
Dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin
Sudden buildup of fluid in the scrotum
Some testicular tumour results in hormonal changes and causes breast to overgrow which is known as Gynaecomastia.
Lower back pain, shortness of birth, chest pain and bloody sputum or phlegm can be a symptom of advanced stage testicular cancer.
Swelling of 1 or both legs or shortness of breath from a blood clot can be symptoms of testicular cancer. A blood clot in a large vein is called deep vein thrombosis. Development of the blood clot is the sign of testicular cancer.
Physical examination:
The physician might look for swelling, tenderness or hardening. He might also look for the any evidence of abnormal lymph nodes which may indicate the spread of cancer spread. The legs are also checked for any swelling.
Ultrasound:
It uses sound waves to create the picture of the internal organs. The sound waves produces by the ultrasound bounce off tissue in the scrotum. The echoes of the sound waves [roduces a series of images called the sonogram. The sonogram shows up the site, location and shape of the tumour.
Blood tests/Tumour marker:
Tumour markers are substances made by a cancer cells that are found at abnomally high levels in the blood of some people with cancer. The following are the tumour markers:
Elevated levels of these tumor markers may indicate testicular cancer or another type of cancer. However, it is possible to have testicular cancer and have normal tumor marker levels. It is also possible to have elevated levels of these markers without having cancer.
Other tumour marker:
Alkaline phosphatase
Lactate dehydrogenase.
Computed tomography:
A CT scan takes three dimensional pictures of the abnormal tissues from different angles.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging:
A MRI scan uses the combination of the magnetic and radiowave frequency to view the abnormal tissues.
An dye is injected in the vein or the patient is asked to swallow the dye and the results are observed.
Positron emission tomography (PET) or PET-CT scan:
A PET scan is a way to create pictures of organs and tissues inside the body. A small amount of a radioactive sugar substance is injected into the patient’s body. This sugar substance is taken up by cells that use the most energy. Because cancer tends to use energy actively, it absorbs more of the radioactive substance. However, the amount of radiation in the substance is too low to be harmful. A scanner then detects this substance to produce images of the inside of the body.
Orchiectomy for pathology test:
During this surgery the entire testicle is removed through the incision in the groin. Then the pathologist will examine for very thin slices of tissue from the testicle to look under microscope.
The doctor then look for the testis for the presence of cancer cells.
The five year survival rate for stage 1 cancer is 93%
The five year survival rate for stage 4 cancer is 71%
Routine check up if you find any difficultis with the testis
Correct the cryptochridism at the earlier stage
Do self check up by palapating the testis and compare testis on both side.Look for size, weight, swelling and shape of the testis.
