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Testicular Cancerby Keely Savoie By now, most people have seen or heard about the yellow "LIVESTRONG" wristbands. They have come to represent cancer of all kinds, and their popularity shows just how many people have been touched by the disease. But some forget that the wristbands started as a reference to Lance Armstrong's personal battle with testicular cancer — the most common form of cancer among young men. Testicular Cancer Though relatively rare among all forms of cancer, testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer among men between the ages of 20 and 34. And for reasons experts do not quite understand, the incidence of testicular cancer has increased almost threefold since the 1930s. About 8,000 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer in the United States each year. If detected late or left untreated, testicular cancer can spread to other parts of the body, where it can lead to more serious illness and, in some cases, death. By the time Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer, it had spread to his abdomen, lungs, and brain. Although, with treatment, Armstrong survived, roughly 400 men die of causes related to testicular cancer each year. The good news is that treatment for testicular cancer is extremely effective, especially when the cancer is detected early. And detecting testicular cancer is easy if you know what you're looking — or feeling — for. Get a Grip Testicular cancer has a number of symptoms — the most common of which is a lump or swelling in a testicle. Lumps caused by testicular cancer are usually about the size of a pea when first detected. One way to detect these lumps is to do a self-exam. Testicular self exams (TSEs) are an easy way to become familiar with how your testicles look and feel. Keep in mind that healthy testicles are normally oval, smooth, and firm. The epididymidis — a soft, tightly coiled tube that runs along the back of each testicle — may feel like a lump, but it is a normal structure. TSEs are best done after a warm shower or bath when the tissue in the scrotum is relaxed and hangs loosely. Doing the TSE is quick and easy: first move the penis out of the way and take a look in the mirror to check that the testicles are roughly the same size. Some difference is normal, but any significant disparity between one side and the other should be checked by a health care provider. Next, feel for lumps on one testicle by rolling it gently between your thumb and fingers. Repeat on the other testicle. Testicles can be somewhat sensitive — take a little TLC with your TSE. Not all lumps or bumps on or around the testicles are related to cancer. But it's a good idea to have any irregularities checked out by your health care provider. It's also a good idea to have your testicles examined by a clinician during your regular checkups — even if you haven't felt any lumps or other changes. Remember, the earlier cancer is detected and treated, the easier it is to cure. Other symptoms of testicular cancer, when they occur, may include aches or pains in the back, lower abdomen, or scrotum; a loss of sex drive; a sensation of heaviness in the scrotum or bloating in the lower abdomen; and tenderness, swelling, or lumps around the nipples. If you have any reason to suspect you might have testicular cancer, your doctor can rule out or diagnose testicular cancer with a manual exam, blood tests, ultrasound, or surgery. Risk Factors Age and race play a large role in who is at risk for testicular cancer. Younger men — between ages 15 and 39 — are most at risk. Only nine percent of testicular cancers occur in men over 50. White men are five to 10 times more likely to develop testicular cancer than African-American men. Latino, Asian-American, and Native American men also develop testicular cancer at higher rates than do African American men, but not at rates as high as white men. Other risk factors include a family history of testicular cancer; being HIV-positive; Klinefelter's syndrome (a genetic condition that causes underdeveloped testicles); cryptochidism (a condition where the testicle does not descend into the scrotum on its own); or having already had testicular cancer. If any of these hold true for you, talk to your health care provider about protective measures, such as regular TSEs and other screenings. Treatment Testicular cancer is usually treated with surgery, often followed by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other treatments. The success rate of treatment is high — the survival rate is higher than 95 percent if the cancer is detected early. Nearly all men who have testicular cancer have it in only one testicle, and surgical removal of the affected testicle does not affect the hormones associated with masculinity, facial and body hair, voice, and sex drive. If the appearance of having one testicle becomes an issue, prosthetic implants are available. Remember, with early detection and treatment, most men survive testicular cancer. And TSEs can help men to "LIVESTRONG" longer.
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