Testes cancer causes, symptoms, signs, diagnosis and management
Medically Reviewed by Dr Sravya, MBBS, MS
Introduction
Cancer starts when cells start to develop out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can end up cancerous and unfold to other parts of the body. Testicles are walnut-shaped sex glands that produce sperm and the hormone testosterone. It is a type of cancer that develops in the testicles. It is also known as Testicular cancer. An increase in cells that start in the testicles is known as testes cancer.
The scrotum contains the testes, often known as the testicles. Under the penis is a loose pouch of skin known as the scrotum. One in every 250 men with testicles will develop testicular cancer over their lives
nevertheless, it’s the most commonplace most cancers amongst humans assigned male at start aged 15 to 35. To recognize this cancer, it enables us to realize approximately the ordinary structure and function of the testicles.
What are Testicles
The male reproductive system includes the testicles, often known as testicles or testes for a single testicle. Both organs are normally slightly smaller than a golf ball in adult males. They are contained in the scrotum, a pouch of skin. The scrotum hangs below the base of the penis.
Testicles have 2 main functions
- They produce testosterone and other androgens, as well as sperm, the male cells required to fertilize a female egg and initiate pregnancy.
- Sperm are made in long, fibrous tubes inside the testes called seminiferous tubules. The epididymis, a little coiled tube located behind each testicle, is where they are then kept. They grew up here.
Sperm cells are transported from the epididymis to the seminal vesicles during ejaculation via the vas deferens. There, they combine with the fluids produced by the prostate, vesicles, and other glands to create semen. The urethra is the channel in the middle of the penis via which both urine and semen exit the body when this fluid enters.
Types of Testes Cancer
A mass or tumor is created when the testicular germ cells congregate to form in around 90% of all cases of testes cancer. Germ cells eventually develop into sperm. From germ cells, two different forms of testicular cancer develop.
- Seminoma - Seminoma is a cancer with a sluggish growth rate that mostly affects persons in their 40s or 50s.
- Non-seminoma - A cancer that grows faster than seminomas.People in their late teens, 20s, and 30s are most affected. There are four types of non-seminoma tumors. Each is named after the type of germ cells that make up the tumor. Embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, and teratoma are examples of non-seminoma cancers.
Seminoma and non-seminoma cells can both be seen in some testicular cancer tumors .
Testes Tumour Symptoms
A lump in the testis that causes no pain is the most typical sign of testicular cancer. Other symptoms include
- Swelling or sudden accumulation of fluid in the scrotum.
- Lump or swelling in both testicles.
- Sensation of heaviness in the scrotum.
- Pain or discomfort in the scrotum or testicles.
- Shrinking testicles (testicular atrophy).
Late-stage testes tumour symptoms
Advanced testes cancer symptoms may include:
- back pain from cancer spreading to the lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen.
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in the chest
- Cough
- Abdominal pain
- Headaches
- Headaches
- Confusion
Is pain in the testicles a sign of cancer
Yes, but not always. These pain can also occur with other conditions, so don’t panic if you notice them. To be certain, arrange a visit with your provider. A delay in diagnosis allows cancer cells time to spread, making the disease more difficult to treat.
Risk factors for Testes Cancer
Testes cancer risk factors include the following:
- A family history of the illness
- Abnormal testicular development
- To reduce pain and swelling, the doctor usually recommends anti-inflammatory and painkiller drugs. For example, ibuprofen
- Undescended testes, which is called cryptorchidism.
Undescended Testes – the testes typically form in a man’s abdomen and descend into his scrotum during fetal development. An undescended testicle is one or both of your baby’s testicles that are still inside his abdomen.
Testes Causes Cancer
Testes cancer develops when cells multiply faster than usual and eventually form a lump or tumor. What triggers these behaviors in cells is unknown to researchers. They are aware that germ cells frequently develop into testicular cancer.
Diagnosis of Testes Cancer
Tests your doctor uses to diagnose testes cancer may include:
- a physical examination that may reveal any testicular abnormalities such as lumps or swelling.
- ultrasound to examine the internal structure of the testicles.
- blood tests called tumor marker tests, which may show increased levels of substances linked to testicular cancer, such as alpha-fetoprotein or beta-human chorionic gonadotropin.
- Surgery: - The procedure, called a radical inguinal orchiectomy, aims to remove the tumor as soon as possible so that a tissue sample can be taken via biopsy.
- Biopsies are used to diagnose cancer. Biopsing a testicular tumor can cause the cancer to spread. So, the doctor will remove the entire testicle from the scrotum to take a sample from the tumor.
- Once a diagnosis is made, tests such as a CT scan of the pelvis and abdomen are done to see if the cancer has spread elsewhere. This is called Staging.
The stages of testes cancer are
- Stage 1 is limited to the testes.
- Stage 2 Lymph nodes in the belly are affected by cancer.
- Stage 3 has spread to other parts of the body. This kind of cancer can metastasize to the bones, liver, lungs, and brain.
Treatment of Testes Cancer
There are three general categories of treatment for testes cancer. Your cancer’s stage will determine the kind of treatment you get. Survival rates for testicular cancer depend on how far the cancer has spread.
- Five-year survival for testes cancer that is localized or has not spread outside the testicles is 99%.
- Five-year survival for regional cancer that has spread beyond the testicles to nearby lymph nodes or parts of the body is 96%.
- Five-year survival for distant cancer, or cancer that has spread to the lungs, liver, or distant lymph nodes, is 73%.
Surgery
To ascertain the cancer’s stage, surgery is performed to remove one or both of your testicles as well as some nearby lymph nodes. This helps guide the treatment plan.
Radiation Therapy
In radiation therapy, high-energy beams are employed to destroy cancer cells. Both inside and outside can receive it.
External beam radiation uses a device that focuses radiation on the cancerous area. Internal radiation involves the use of radioactive seeds or wires placed in the affected area. This form is often successful in the treatment of seminomas.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It is a systemic treatment, which means it can kill cancer cells that have spread to other parts of your body. When taken orally or intravenously, it can travel through your bloodstream and kill cancer cells.
A stem cell transplant may come after high-dose chemotherapy in patients with testes cancer that are extremely advanced. Once the chemotherapy has destroyed the cancer cells, the stem cells are given and they develop into healthy blood cells.
Complications of Testes Cancer
- Testes cancer can still spread to other parts of your body even though it is very curable.
- Your fertility can be harmed if one or both testicles are removed.
- Ask your doctor about your choices for maintaining your fertility before treatment starts.