If you are a man, you should check your testicles regularly for changes. These changes are common in adolescence and are signs of possible testicular cancer. A simple self-examination can help you detect the disease in its early stages. The best time to do this is after a hot shower or bath. After the bath, you can use your fingers and thumbs to feel for swelling in the testicles.
When cancer develops in the testicles, there are several possible causes. Some of these are benign, while others are precancerous. A pure teratoma in the testicles is very rare and does not increase the levels of HCG or AFP. In other cases, the cancer has invaded surrounding tissues and may have spread elsewhere. However, a pure teratoma in the testicles is rare and can be easily treated with surgery. Unfortunately, some teratomas will come back after treatment.
While testicular cancer is often self-limited, it can affect a man’s sexual energy and fertility. Because the body produces less testosterone than normal, a man may have a lower sperm count, which can affect his ability to conceive. A brief reduction in sperm growth and difficulty ejaculation are also common symptoms of testicular cancer. If these symptoms persist after treatment, talk to your doctor about options for banking sperm.
Testicular cancer is highly treatable if detected early. If caught early, most males will live at least 5 years after diagnosis. If the cancer spreads to other testicles, treatment will depend on the type of cancer and stage of the disease. In the event that your testicles are infected, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove them and ensure that your sex life is preserved. After testicular cancer, your fertility will be restored and may even improve.
Various procedures are used for testing the testicles. One such procedure is inguinal exploration. This involves cutting the pubic bone and taking the testicle out of the scrotum. After the exam, your doctor will diagnose the cancer stage and determine the most appropriate course of treatment. In some cases, an early diagnosis may only require observation. If the cancer has spread, treatment may include orchiectomy. In most cases, the testicle is removed and replaced with a prosthetic one.
Symptoms of testicular cancer include pain and swelling in the groin area. If your testicles are infected with cancer, your doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics and surgery to remove the affected area. However, chemotherapy and radiation treatment can cause infertility. If you are unable to get an early diagnosis, it’s important to consider sperm banking as an option. If you don’t have a doctor in your area, call Roswell Park instead.
Although most men don’t have symptoms, cancer of the testicles is not a laughing matter. There are different types of treatment for testicular cancer and each of them has its own treatment options. In most cases, non-seminoma tumours start in germ cells that produce sperm and eggs. Non-seminomas are more aggressive than seminomas, but the latter are more likely to occur in older men.