The cause of testicular cancer is unknown. It is rare, but it is the most common cancer in men that are 15-34 years old in the U.S. It is also highly untreatable.
A man's risk factor may be increased if the following exists:
-abnormal testicle development
-a history in the family of this disease
-history of undescended testicle
-Klinefelter Syndrome
This cancer is more common among older men. The two main types of cancer cells involved in this cancer include seminomas and nonseminomas. The cancer cells grow from the male sperm cells. A seminoma is a slow growing form of this cancer usually in the testes, but can spread to the lymph nodes. A nonseminoma is a fast growing type of testicular cancer. The tumors of this type of cancer cell are made up of more than one type of cell: choriocarcinoma (rare), embryonal carcinoma, teratoma, and yolk sac tumor.
A man's risk factor may be increased if the following exists:
-abnormal testicle development
-a history in the family of this disease
-history of undescended testicle
-Klinefelter Syndrome
This cancer is more common among older men. The two main types of cancer cells involved in this cancer include seminomas and nonseminomas. The cancer cells grow from the male sperm cells. A seminoma is a slow growing form of this cancer usually in the testes, but can spread to the lymph nodes. A nonseminoma is a fast growing type of testicular cancer. The tumors of this type of cancer cell are made up of more than one type of cell: choriocarcinoma (rare), embryonal carcinoma, teratoma, and yolk sac tumor.
Stromal tumors are a rare case of testicular cancer. They consist of two main types which are Leydig cell tumors and Sertoli cell tumors. These are more common among childhood.
Symptoms may not be present, but some that could occur include the following:
-Discomfort or pain in the testicle, or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
-Pain in the lower back or abdomen
-Enlargement of a testicle or the way it feels
-Excess development of breast tissue (gynecomastia), however, this can occur normally in adolescent boys who do not have testicular cancer
-Lump or swelling in either testicle
Symptoms in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, abdomen, pelvis, back, or brain, may occur if the cancer has spread.
Treatment for Testicular Cancer is first done by detecting the kind of testicular cancer, then finding what stage is present. There are three stages. Stage one is when the cancer is only in the testes. Stage two is when it has spread to lymph nodes. Stage three is when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, including the brain. One type of treatment is done by removing the testicles. Another is when they remove the testicles and do radiation therapy. This is commonly done among seminoma testicular cancer to prevent the cancer from returning. Another kind of treatment can be done by giving drugs to the affected patient to kill the cancer cells. This treatment has had success among patients with seminoma and nonseminoma testicular cancer.
Symptoms may not be present, but some that could occur include the following:
-Discomfort or pain in the testicle, or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
-Pain in the lower back or abdomen
-Enlargement of a testicle or the way it feels
-Excess development of breast tissue (gynecomastia), however, this can occur normally in adolescent boys who do not have testicular cancer
-Lump or swelling in either testicle
Symptoms in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, abdomen, pelvis, back, or brain, may occur if the cancer has spread.
Treatment for Testicular Cancer is first done by detecting the kind of testicular cancer, then finding what stage is present. There are three stages. Stage one is when the cancer is only in the testes. Stage two is when it has spread to lymph nodes. Stage three is when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, including the brain. One type of treatment is done by removing the testicles. Another is when they remove the testicles and do radiation therapy. This is commonly done among seminoma testicular cancer to prevent the cancer from returning. Another kind of treatment can be done by giving drugs to the affected patient to kill the cancer cells. This treatment has had success among patients with seminoma and nonseminoma testicular cancer.
This article was written by Abigail and Nicholas.