A small swelling on the testicle that neither hurts nor bothers, and perhaps a small pulling sensation in the groin – but most of the time, you(n) don’t even feel that when the disease spreads: testicular cancer. Every year, about 4,200 men in Germany develop testicular cancer, most of them before the age of 35. This makes the disease rare overall, considering that more than 70,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. But in the age group of men between 20 and 40 years, it is the most common cancer of all.
Risk factors for testicular cancer
The cause of testicular cancer is still unclear today. But it is now known what promotes the development of testicular cancer. First, there is the so-called undescended testis, i.e. when the testis is not located in the scrotum. Normally, during development in the womb, the testicle slowly moves from the abdominal cavity to its correct position in the scrotum. If this developmental step is disturbed, the testicle remains in the groin, for example, or even in the abdominal cavity. Knowing that this poses a risk for testicular cancer, efforts are made as early as possible to bring the testicle into the correct position in the scrotum, either by hormone administration or surgery. Boys with congenital hernias also seem to be more likely to develop testicular cancer. And it has been found that there is often a familial clustering, meaning that several men in a family may be affected, suggesting a genetic predisposition. Discussions and research are currently underway to determine what additional risk factors in the womb might cause a man to develop testicular cancer during his lifetime.
Good chances of cure for testicular cancer
There are different types of testicular cancer, depending on the cells from which the tumor originated. But all tumors have one thing in common: they can be treated very well. More than 90 percent of men overcome the disease with the help of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. And even if the disease recurs, one(s) still has good prospects of a cure! Which treatment is used depends on the type of tumor and whether the disease has already spread to the body. And of course, the same applies to this disease as to all other cancers: The earlier it is detected, the greater the chances of cure!
Every change in the testicle belongs to be examined
A man who notices an abnormality such as a swelling or a nodule on the testicle should see a urologist as soon as possible. After an interview, the urologist will palpate the testicle and perform an ultrasound examination. Also included is an examination of the rest of the body to look for swollen lymph nodes, which may be a sign of daughter tumors in the body. If the doctor diagnoses testicular cancer, surgery is necessary to remove the testicle. However, even if it is suspected, surgery will be sought to examine the testicle more closely. In this case, the testicle is removed only if the suspicion is confirmed during the operation. Sometimes a tissue sample of the second testicle is taken at the same time, for example if it is very small. Because then there is a possibility that the second testicle also already has tissue changes.
Precise examination important for further treatment
In addition to the fine-tissue examination of the removed testicle, further examinations are often necessary to determine whether and how far the disease has already spread in the body. In medical terms, this means determining the stage of the disease. This is essential in order to plan further treatment. X-rays and computer tomography are usually used for this purpose. Three stages of the disease are distinguished:
- Stage I here means that the tumor is limited only to the testis.
- Stage II that the tumor has spread to lymph nodes in the immediate vicinity in the abdomen or pelvis.
- Stage III then refers to all stages of the disease in which the tumor has already spread cancer cells to more distant lymphatic regions, such as the lymph nodes of the lungs. And also when organs are already affected, such as liver, bone or brain.
For the staging is also taken from each patient blood and examined for so-called tumor markers.Tumor markers are substances that also occur in the healthy body, but can suddenly increase in a malignant disease because the cancer tissue produces this substance. These can be certain proteins, but also enzymes and hormones.
