Symptoms of Testicular Cancer
Health & Fitness → Cancer / Illness
- Author Liz Tyler
- Published August 23, 2011
- Word count 581
The most observable symptom of testicular cancer is the abnormal mass of tissue which arises from the testicles contained within the scrotum. There are two major categories of testicular cancer:
-
Germ cell tumors – about 95% of testicular cancer cases arise from germ cells (spermatocytes). This type of tumor is highly aggressive and metastatic but is mostly curable. Germ cell tumors are further classified as seminoma, spermatocytic seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumor, choriocarcinoma, and teratoma.
-
Nongerminal tumors – are benign tumors that arise from cells surrounding the spermatocytes. While they do not metastasize, nongerminal tumors secrete steroids that may contribute to observable endocrinologic symptoms of testicular cancer. Nongerminal tumors may be leydig cell tumors or sertoli cell tumors.
Symptoms of testicular cancer are not always observed in many patients. There are cases where a lump on the testicle is painful, while others do not report pain. Patients have also reported feeling heaviness and/ or a dull ache in the testicles and lower abdominal area. Another symptom of testicular cancer is observed when there is increased secretion of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by the cancerous tissues. In rare cases, the excess hCG stimulates breast development in males (gynecomastia), resulting to breast tenderness or enlargement.
As mentioned above, nongerminal tumors such as leydig cell tumor and sertoli cell tumor produces steroids such as male and female sex hormones. These symptoms of testicular cancer, however, are not specific as other medical conditions may exhibit them. Elaboration of estrogen, the female sex hormone, may lead to loss of sex drive and breast development, such as that observed in excessive hCG. The male hormone androgen does not cause any notable symptoms in adults, but excess androgen in prepubertal children causes prominent development of facial and body hair.
While testicular cancer is usually asymptomatic, it is particularly dangerous once it has metastasized to other sites in the body. Cancer that has spread to lymph nodes in the liver or abdomen may cause pain in that area. If the cancer has spread through the lungs, symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing that may be accompanied with blood. Cancer that has spread to the brain may cause headaches and other neurologic manifestations.
There are a number of benign conditions that also manifest symptoms of testicular cancer. Traumatic injury and inflammation of the testicles (orchitis) or epididymis (epididymitis) produces painful swellings. Orchitis and epididymitis are caused by either viruses or bacteria. Thus, it is important to consult with a medical practitioner to rule out these causes.
Risk Factors
Cryptorchidism – this is a developmental abnormality in which the testes fail to descend from the abdomen to the scrotal sac.
Testicular dysgenesis – abnormal development of the testes is observed in conditions such as testicular feminization and Klinefelter syndrome
Genes – a person who has close relatives with a history of testicular cancer is at greater risk, in addition to those with chromosomal abnormalities, specifically at chromosome 12.
Age – testicular cancer can be observed in all ages, but is particularly common in males from the ages of 15 to 35.
Race – testicular cancer has a higher prevalence in Caucasians than in Africans or Asians.
What if you just can't tell if you have symptoms of testicular cancer?
I know how hard it can be to tell if you have the symptoms of testicular cancer by yourself, but if you want to really be certain that you do not have testicular cancer symptoms you'll need to perform a single check that works amazingly well.
This check is simple to pick up and it doesn't take much practice, you can read how to do it in my free report here: Testicular Cancer Symptoms. Don't give up hope, it's NOT impossible. Learn more ways to determine the symptoms of testicular cancer by clicking the link.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- The Invisible Impact of Missing Teeth: Why Replacing Them Matters
- Why a Root Canal Might Be the Best News for Your Tooth
- How Faith and Resilience Shaped My Post-Cancer Journey
- Exploring the Impact of Malaria on Global Health: Financial Implications and Strategies for Prevention
- The Importance Of Regular STD Testing
- E. coli Explained: History and Characteristics of the Bacterium
- Advanced Rolfing Fort Worth Dallas - Rolfing and Scoliosis
- The Link Between Type 2 Diabetes and Dementia
- The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease
- The Impact of Exercise on Immune Health: Unveiling the Body's Defense Mechanism
- Type of Seizure Disorders
- Can PTSD Cause Executive Dysfunction?
- Executive Dysfunction Has Nothing to do with Being an Executive
- What Autistic People Want You to Know About Autism
- Advances in Alzheimer's: Gamma Light Therapy, Bacteria, and Inflammation
- How do you know whether your child or you have APD?
- Mild Cognitive Impairment--A Precursor to Dementia?
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Doesn't Just Affect Combat Soldiers
- The Three Most Common Disabilities
- 4 Reasons Seniors Should Prioritize Oral Hygiene
- A FATHER'S JOURNEY OF HOPE: CAMP ESPERANZA'S IMPACT ON YOUNG CANCER SURVIVORS
- How Your Phone Could Be Harming Your Health
- Covid-19 Side Effects for Diabetes
- FutureCommPR shines a light on a rare, serious medical condition
- Information On Polyarthritis.
- Mindfulness in Nature: 3 Simple Tips For How Spending Time Outdoors Can Enhance Your Practice
- Managing risk in mental health settings
- Emergency Air Ambulance with Top Medical Services - Bumrungrad Hospital Dhaka Office
- Why Consider Stem Cell Banking for Teeth?
- The Warning Signs of Oral Cancer (and Why It’s Important to Know Them)