Testicular Cancer - Common Myths, Facts and Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Testicular Cancer?
An individual's testicles are the site of testicular cancer, which affects the male reproductive system. Testicular lumps and swelling in the scrotum are common symptoms. There are several types of testicular cancer. Seminomas and non-seminomas are two different subtypes of testicular cancer based on the sort of malignant cells that make up the tumor. Seminomas, which usually affect men in their 30s and 40s while affecting the testes alone, are a slow-growing form of the disease.
In non-seminomas, multiple cell types are often present, and they tend to grow and propagate more quickly than seminomas do. The germ cells in the testicles, which produce immature sperm, are the origin of almost all testicular cancers. We still don't have an understanding of what makes germ cells abnormal, leading to cancer.
When there is a family history of testicular tumors, it is frequently detected in men. Men who are born with congenital abnormalities of the testes, penis, or kidneys are more likely to develop testicular cancer. Similar to this, men who were born with an inguinal hernia have a higher risk of developing it. The risk factors for the occurrence of testicular cancer include gonadal dysgenesis, cryptorchidism, and Klinefelter's syndrome. If one testicle has previously been affected, there are 8 to 10 times more possibilities that a tumor would form on the opposite side.
You can check out our other blogs if you want to know everything about testicular cancer and also want to know how to prevent it. Here is the link –
How You Can Prevent Testicular Cancer
Everything About Testicular Cancer You Should Know
In this blog, we will discuss the common myths, facts, and frequently asked questions about Testicular cancer.
Several myths exist about testicular cancer, some of which are ridiculous and can be dispelled with common sense. The following are some of these myths about testicular cancer:
Myth 1: It is believed that Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men.
Prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer are the three types of cancer that affect men the most frequently. Testicular cancer is incredibly uncommon. A man has a 1 in 263 risks of developing testicular cancer during his lifetime, and each year, about 8,000 men are diagnosed with the condition, which is a far lower incidence than that of other cancers.
Myth 2: Testicular cancer results in death.
This assumption is entirely incorrect. One of the cancer types that is most easily treated is testicular cancer. When receiving treatment for this ailment, nine out of ten people recover.
Myth 3: Older people are more likely to develop testicular cancer.
Generally, people tend to believe that the risk of testicular cancer grows with age, as it does usually with all types of cancer. Contrarily, testicular cancer is a condition that affects young men. It is the most prevalent malignancy in men between the ages of 20 and 34.
Myth 4: If you develop testicular cancer, it will affect your sexual life.
The majority of patients are able to engage in orgasm and sex just as they did before treatment. The reason for this is that just the afflicted testicle is removed during therapy, and the remaining testes produces enough testosterone to keep sex desire and normal erections under check. Testosterone replacement therapy can help men feel better, even if both testicles need to be removed due to cancer.
Myth 5: Once testicular cancer has been treated, having children is not possible.
Since the testicles are where sperm is produced, many men who are fertile worry that developing testicular cancer would affect their ability to become fathers. One testicle suffices to maintain normal fertility. In most cases, following treatment, a patient's sperm count recovers to normal. While there is a 20 to 30% chance of infertility in males receiving chemotherapy, they can bank their sperm before treatment, giving them the chance to have children following treatment.
Myth 6: Testicular trauma raises your risk of developing testicular cancer.
Contrary to what many people think, getting smacked in the testicles doesn't make you more likely to develop testicular cancer. Repetitive friction brought on by activities like horseback riding also doesn't help. The vast majority of studies have indicated that risk of testicular cancer is unaffected by rigorous physical activity. In actuality, the whole reverse is true. Your chance of developing some malignancies can actually be lowered by regular exercise.
Myth 7: Testicular cancer is caused by vasectomies.
There is no evidence to suggest that men who have had vasectomies are more likely to get testicular cancer than other men who have not had the procedure, according to several studies.
Myth 8: Testicular cancer is caused by cryptorchidism.
When the testes are retained in the belly rather than descending into the scrotal sac, it is a disorder known as cryptorchidism. It has been linked to a higher risk of testicular cancer. However, testicular cancer is only discovered in 2% of patients with undescended testicles, making it a highly uncommon disease in and of itself.
- Testicular cancer, as its name implies, is cancer that begins in either one or both testicles. Male hormones like testosterone are produced by the testicles, as well as sperm, which is necessary for conception.
- Although testicular cancer can develop at any age, it most frequently affects males between the ages of 20 and 40. Before puberty, testicular cancer is incredibly uncommon.
- In germ cells, more than 90% of testicular cancers will begin.
- The course of treatment will depend on the cancer's type and stage. Testicular cancer treatments may involve observation, surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation.
- It's crucial to get tested straight away if you notice any changes to your testicles or scrotum because many men with testicular cancer don't exhibit pain right away. Unfortunately, the average period that males wait to speak out is five months, which can allow the cancer to advance or spread.
- A person's chance of getting testicular cancer is as low as 0.4% because it is so uncommon in nature.
- Ninety percent of cases of testicular cancer are curable. If it has not spread throughout the body, the cure rate is 100%.
- The majority of these testicular tumors are benign and don't spread past the testicle, making surgery to remove them possible.
- Testicular cancer's origins remain unknown. It is still being researched.
- A testicular lump is among the early signs of testicular cancer.
Here are the some of the most frequently asked questions about testicular cancer –
Q.1. Testicular cancer: What causes it?
Cancer of the testicles has no recognized causes. Numerous possibilities exist, but none of them have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Q.2. Who administers treatment for testicular cancer?
Urologists and oncologists treat testicular cancer.
Q.3. Are there any inherited trends in testicular cancer?
It is true that in some situations, testicular cancer appears to run in families. In comparison to someone without a family history, you have a 3–4 times greater probability of developing cancer if your father had the condition.
Q. 4. What are the most common signs and symptoms testicular cancer?
There may be one or more of the following signs and symptoms of testicular cancer:
- a growth or bump in either testicle
- soreness or discomfort in either testicle
- Increasing testicle size
- Modification of a testicle's sensation
- dull aching, discomfort, or weight in the scrotum
- A pain in the lower back, abdominal, or groin
- Breast tissue enlargement
Men find it most often on their own. They may discover it occasionally by self-examination or frequently while being examined by a doctor for an unrelated reason.
Q.6. What should I do if I believe I may be experiencing testicular cancer symptoms?
Don't freak out. However, it's crucial to visit a doctor as soon as you can, ideally a urologist. Keep in mind that your chances of making a full and healthy recovery are increased the earlier the sickness is identified and treated.
Q.7. Is it possible to cure testicular cancer without removing it?
For all types of testicular cancer, including those that have metastasized to other parts of the body, surgery is almost always the first course of action. Depending on the stage of your cancer, your Mercy doctor may occasionally suggest chemotherapy or radiation therapy to be utilized after your surgery.
Q.8. Testicular cancer: does it spread?
Yes. If left untreated, testicular cancer has a risk of metastasizing to other organs. Testicular cancer, like the majority of other cancers, is most likely to be curable if it is discovered early. Patients may experience a greater risk to their lives if it is allowed to spread unnoticed.
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