The Cayman Islands Cancer Society is observing November as Cancer Awareness Month for men.
In this final article, we provide men with all the facts about testicular cancer, a cancer which is relatively rare but increasing in incidence around the world.
The incidence has doubled among white men in the last 40 years and more black men are also getting the disease.
Testicular cancer is often considered a young man’s disease and it is in fact the most commonly form of cancer diagnosed in males between the ages of 15 and 34. It can however affect men of any age.
The testicles are part of the male reproductive system. Cancer is a disease of our cells and develops when one of our cells begins to behave abnormally and multiplies without any order or control. The testicles contain several different types of cells and because of this as many as 14 different types of cancer can originate in the testicles.
Knowing your personal medical history is important when it comes to assessing your risk for testicular cancer and diagnosing the disease. Males who are born with a medical condition known as cryptorchidism, otherwise known as an undescended testicle, are at greatest risk.
Normally the testicles descend from inside the abdomen into the scrotum of a male before birth but it is when this does not occur that the condition occurs. The risk remains even if the problem is corrected surgically or the testicle drops down of its own accord after birth. The risk of testicular cancer applies to both testicles.
Other congenital abnormalities, meaning present at birth, of the testicles, penis or kidneys can also lead to an increased risk of testicular cancer later in life as can a inguinal hernia. A personal history of testicular cancer puts you at risk for a new case in the other testicle and a family history of testicular cancer also increases the likelihood of developing this type of cancer. There is no scientific evidence that testicular cancer can be prevented as these risk factors are all things that men have no control over.
Most testicular cancers are discovered by men, sometimes when performing a monthly testicular self-exam. The symptoms of testicular cancer described below can be caused by other conditions but a man should always speak with a doctor as soon as possible if he notices anything unusual about his testicles.
Symptoms of testicular cancer include a painless lump or swelling in a testicle; pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum; any enlargement of the testicle or change in the way it feels; a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum; a dull ache in the lower abdomen, back or groin; or a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.
Should a doctor suspect that a man has developed testicular cancer there are a number of tests but the only way to be certain is to do a biopsy and this involves the removal of the affected testicle. It is important for men to know that they can still have normal sexual function and father a child with one testicle. In many cases, sperm is ‘banked’ to preserve a sample in case it is needed. It is also important for men to note that early detection is the key and if found early many men go on to live long and healthy lives.
For more information on breast cancer in men contact the Cayman Islands Cancer Society by calling 949-7618 or emailing [email protected].
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