Testicular Cancer

What is testicular cancer?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

Testicular cancer is a cancer that develops in the tissues of one or both testicles. The testicles, or testes, are part of the male reproductive system. They make male hormones and sperm. They are two egg-shaped glands inside the scrotum, a sac of loose skin that lies below the penis. You can get cancer in one or both testicles.

Who is most likely to develop testicular cancer?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

Testicular cancer is very rare. You can get it at any age, but it is most common in men between the ages of 20 and 39. It is also more common in those who:

• Have had abnormal testicle development
• Have had an undescended testicle, a condition in which one or both testicles fail to move into the scrotum before birth
• Have had testicle cancer before
• Have a family history of the cancer

What are the symptoms of testicular cancer?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

The symptoms of testicular cancer may include:

• A painless lump or swelling in either testicle
• A change in how the testicle feels
• A dull ache in the lower abdomen (belly) or the groin (the area where the thigh meets the abdomen)
• A sudden build-up of fluid in the scrotum
• Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum

How is testicular cancer diagnosed?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

To find out if you have testicular cancer, your health care provider may use:

• A physical exam.
• Blood tests.
• An ultrasound of the testicles.
• An inguinal orchiectomy, which is a procedure to remove the entire testicle. A tissue sample from the testicle is viewed under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

What are the treatments for testicular cancer?

From: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

Testicular cancer can usually be cured.The treatment options include:

• Surgery (if the testicle has not already been removed during diagnosis).
• Radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy.
• High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant.
• Surveillance, which might be done after surgery. It means that your provider will closely follow your condition with regular exams and tests. You won't get any further treatment unless there are changes in your test results.

Some of the treatments may also cause infertility. If you may want to have children later on, you should consider sperm banking before treatment.

After you have finished your treatment, you will need regular follow-up testing to make sure that the cancer has not come back. If you have had cancer in one testicle, you have a higher risk of getting cancer in the other testicle. So it's important to check the other testicle regularly and let your provider know if you notice any changes or unusual symptoms.

Understanding terms used in the source

These definitions explain medical words used above. A definition is not evidence that another condition is present, and it does not predict how a symptom will develop. Ask the clinician which terms apply to the actual examination or test result.

Family history

Information about close relatives of an individual who is the proband of a study or who is being investigated with the goal of identifying a medical diagnosis. Usually, the family history includes information from three generations of relatives, including children, brothers and sisters, parents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandparents, and cousins.

Which doctor should you see?

The suggested department for discussing Testicular Cancer is Oncology, with a oncologist and relevant organ specialist as the relevant type of clinician. General physician / Family Medicine; paediatrician for children. Referral depends on symptoms.

Additional services that may be relevant, depending on the findings, include: Relevant organ specialist / Surgical Oncology as indicated.

This is an editorial referral starting point. The appropriate clinic depends on the person’s age, symptoms, previous diagnosis and local services. The first clinician can decide whether another specialty or a team is needed; a department label does not confirm the diagnosis.

How to prepare for an assessment

Bring a short timeline of the main symptoms: when they first appeared, whether they are constant or episodic, what seems to change them, and how they affect daily activities. Include previous reports, discharge summaries, current medicines and supplements, allergies, and any relevant family history. A dated record is more useful than trying to match every feature in an online article.

Ask the clinician what is already established and what remains uncertain. If a test is suggested, ask what question it answers, what its limitations are and how the result would change the next step. The information here is not an instruction to arrange every possible test. In children, bring growth, developmental and school information if it is relevant to the concern.

• Has the exact tumour type been confirmed, and is staging relevant?
• What is the goal of each proposed treatment option?
• How will side effects, daily function and supportive care be addressed?

Treatment discussions and follow-up

Where the source describes treatments, these are an overview of possible care, not a prescription for an individual. Ask which option applies to the confirmed diagnosis, what benefit is expected, what adverse effects to watch for and how progress will be assessed. Availability, approvals and local practice can differ from the country described in the source.

Before leaving the appointment, clarify the next review date, who will communicate results, and whom to contact if the situation changes. Discuss difficulties with sleep, work, school, mobility, eating or emotional wellbeing when these are relevant. Practical support may require coordination between the treating clinician and other services.

The collected references do not establish a complete prevention or long-term outlook section for this entry. Missing information should not be interpreted as proof that prevention is impossible or that a particular outcome is inevitable. Ask what is known for the exact subtype, stage and personal circumstances, and which uncertainties remain.

When to seek emergency help

Severe breathing difficulty, collapse, new stroke-like symptoms, a seizure that is prolonged or repeated without recovery, uncontrolled major bleeding, or an immediate risk of self-harm require emergency help. In India, call 112 or reach the nearest emergency department. This is a general, non-exhaustive warning list; it is not a condition-specific triage tool.