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TESTICULAR CANCER
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TESTICULAR CANCER
The testicles control male development in the youth, and generate sperm after
puberty. Furthermore, they continue to produce testosterone, the essential male hormone,
throughout life. Testicular cancer is most common in early adulthood, and usually
first gets noticed as a lump in the scrotum. In fact, men are advised to check
their testicles monthly for any new lumps or bumps, and show them promptly to a
doctor if discovered.
What is Testicular Cancer?
As alluded to above, there are several different types of cells within the testicles, and each has a designated function and “life cycle”. If a cancer starts in the testes, the particular type will depend upon the normal cell counterpart it arose from. Since there are different types of cells within the testicles, there are different types of cancers which may arise from them, as will be discussed. Firstly, we must understand that all cell division in the testicles is under tight control of the “genes” within each cell. Testicular cancer, like all cancers, starts in just one cell. When the genes within a particular cell become damaged, that cell may start dividing out of control, and form a clump called a “tumor”. A tumor merely means a swelling, which may be caused by infection, inflammation or anything-- it is not necessarily a cancer. When a tumor grows only within its local area (although it may become very large) it is called “benign”, and is not cancer. However, when a tumor’s cells have the capacity to spread to other areas of the body, it is called “malignant”, and it is cancer. When a cancer spreads, it is called “metastasis”. At first, the spread is just individual cells too small to be seen, that is called “micrometastasis” or “seeding”. Eventually, those “seeds” may get trapped in distant body areas (e.g. lungs, liver, lymph nodes, bone, brain) and grow into large tumors there. Thus, all tumors that can develop a metastasis are malignant, and all those that cannot are benign. As a cancer grows in its local area, its chances for spread increase. It is the quality of spread for malignant tumors that makes uncontrolled cancer so dangerous.
How Common is Testicular Cancer?
There are about 6000 new cases of testicular cancer each year in the U.S.A., which causes perhaps 400 deaths. Dramatic improvement in survival rates in the past three decades have greatly reduced the numer of men dying of it. In fact, survival has increased from just 10% five decades ago to over 90% today for most subtypes. About 3 in 100,000 men per year develop testicular cancer, and it is the most common cancer in young men between the ages of 15 and 35 years old. Overall, an average man has a 0.1% lifetime risk for testicular cancer, and this risk has actually doubled over the past 50 years. Still, however, testicular cancer represents less than 1% of all new cancers each year. About 3% of patients have “bilateral” disease, that is in both testicles. These cancers may occur at the same time (“simultaneously”) or at successive times (“metachronously”). White males get testicular cancer 6 times as commonly as African-American or Asian males. While young men predominantly get “germ cell tumors” derived from sperm, men over age 60 tend to get a completely different type of cancer, called lymphoma, arising from immune cells. In young boys, acute leukemia (ALL) tends to go to the testicles and swell them, but the treatment for this follows that of the primary disease. Only a cancer which actually starts in the testicles is called “primary testicular cancer”. A cancer spreading to them from some other area (this is rare) is NOT considered testicular cancer, but is named according to the originating area. Again, the risk of testicular cancer has been steadily rising over the past 5 decades; some possible reasons are outlined below.
The testicles control male development in the youth, and generate sperm after
puberty. Furthermore, they continue to produce testosterone, the essential male hormone,
throughout life. Testicular cancer is most common in early adulthood, and usually
first gets noticed as a lump in the scrotum. In fact, men are advised to check
their testicles monthly for any new lumps or bumps, and show them promptly to a
doctor if discovered.
It is critical to get proper diagnosis and treatment for a testicular cancer problem. This can literally make the difference between life and death. While great advances have been made in treating most testicular cancers, and the success rate is high, some varieties are highly aggressive and quickly fatal without expert management and follow-up. Understanding your options will give you the peace-of- mind knowing that you have done everything possible for a successful outcome for yourself or a loved one.
It is critical to get proper diagnosis and treatment for a testicular cancer problem. This can literally make the difference between life and death. While great advances have been made in treating most testicular cancers, and the success rate is high, some varieties are highly aggressive and quickly fatal without expert management and follow-up. Understanding your options will give you the peace-of- mind knowing that you have done everything possible for a successful outcome for yourself or a loved one.
The Cancer Group Institute's material explains, in plain English, the definition, types, frequency, evaluations, historical and latest effective treatments for testicular cancer. We describe surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy along with their results and side-effects. We tell you everything you need to know to help make the right choices today for a testicular cancer problem.
