Testicular cancer is cured in more than 95%... Inform, check, catch up.
Globally, information about testicular cancer is incomplete, and thistopic is considered taboo by a large proportion of young people. Prejudice and shame delay seeking medical advice
So let's start updating with us!
At what agestesticular cancer occurs?
Testicular cancer is rare compared to other cancers, accounting for 1% of all male cancers.
Testicular cancer usually occurs in people aged 15-40 years, being the 3rd leading cause of death at these ages.
Statistics of the disease.
• Made up 1% of male malignant neoplasms and 5% of all urological cancers
Most treatable form of urinary tract cancer (five-year survival: 95.3%)
Most common cancer in young men aged 20-39 years (median age of diagnosis: 33 years)
Every now and then a man will be diagnosed with testicular cancer
3 to 10 new cases per 100,000 men per year in Western societies
One day a man dies of testicular cancer
· 3rd consecutive cause of death at these ages
Risk factors for developing testicular cancer;
· History of cryptorchidism
· Family history of testicular cancer
· History of cancer in the opposite testicle
· Klinefelter syndrome
Age (80% occurs between the ages of 20 and 40
· Breed. Whites are attacked 4 times more often
· Infertility. In studies it has been shown that infertile men appeara slight increase in the risk of testicular cancer.
· Environmental — occupational factors (such as exposure to fertilizers, lime, smoke)
What are the types of testicular cancer?
Neoplasmsthese are divided into 2 main categories:
· germ cell tumours including seminoma and non-seminomatous tumours; and
· the volume of the mattress.
75% of these tumors at the time of diagnosis are confined to the testicle (they do not metastasize to the lymph nodes or other organs).
How would they know I have testicular cancer? What are the most common symptoms?
The most common way of diagnosis is palpation by the same tonometer or by the partner, of a painless swelling — hardness in the testicle.
· Feeling of “heaviness” in the scrotum.
· Mild pain or a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen or groin.
· In random ultrasonographic examination or when investigating pathological spermogram.
· Sometimes there may be pain, especially when the swelling takes on larger dimensions.
· In more advanced stages symptomsmay be pain in the lower back or abdomen, or shortness of breath.
· Less commonly, gynecomastia (swelling of male breasts) occurs.
Asymmetry or the fact that onetesticle is slightly larger than the other, or hangs a little lower than the other is completely normal.
Differential Diagnosis
There are other non-malignant diseasesthat occur with the same symptoms, such as:
· Epididymitis
· Orchitis
· Testicular torsion
· Hydrocele
· Epididymis cyst
Any testicular swelling should be examined and evaluated by the urologist-andrologist specialist to rule out the possibility of testicular cancer.
Testicular Self-Examination
Because the most common way to diagnose testicular cancer is to palpate a painless swelling — hardness in the testicle, it is important to self-examine.
If we get used to palpating the shape and feel of our testicles, then very easily we can perceive any changes in them.
Method of self-examination
Self-examination is verysimple, very easy and does not require special knowledge andtakes only a few minutes.
Two steps were taken, as well as the testicles:
1. The best momentfor self-examination of the testicles is immediately after a warm bath or shower. The skin of the scrotum then is more relaxed, and the testicles can be palpated easier.
Palpate one of the testicles as follows:
· With the index and thumb of one hand you firmly hold one testicle and, at the same time, gently roll the other testicle with a tonalhand and index finger of the other hand.
2. Repeat this procedure for the other testicle.
3. This self-examination should be done once a month, EVERY MONTH!!!
If you notice something unusual like
· hard masses
· changes in shape, size or recommendation should be referred to your doctor immediately.
What if a suspicious find is found on palpation?
If testicular cancer is suspected, your doctor will ask you to perform the following tests:
· scrotal ultrasound
· blood tests for cancermarkers (alpha fetoprotein (AFP), beta choriagonadotropin (beta-hCG) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH)).
If the disease is confirmed, you will proceed toappropriate staging of the disease with a CT scan of the chest and abdomen.
You will also be asked to check the quality of your sample.
What is the treatment of localized testicular cancer?
· High Radical Orchectomy
It is the surgical intervention where with an open incision in the groin the testicle is removed and the spermatic tone (the cord from which the testicle hangs) is removed.
It is an operation that lasts about 1 hour and requires a hospital stay of 1 day.This alone can provide complete treatment if the cancer is localized in the testicle and has not spread.
Surgery is irreplaceable.
This operation can be combined with the installation of an testicular silicone prosthesis.
Is the entire testicle always removed?
In testicular cancer, a radical orchectomy is generally always performed. In case of doubt, interoperatively and before proceeding with an orchectomy, your doctor can send rapid biopsies of the tumor and if they are negative, save the testicle.
What is the prognosis of testicular cancer?
This type of cancer generally responds well to the treatments available to us. With the good cooperation of the Urology and Oncology teams, and thanks to advances in chemotherapy, it has become a
curable form of cancer.
But even if the cancer has spread and is diagnosed with metastases, there is still a very high chance of a cure.
Much higher compared to other types of cancer!!!
How do I proceed after surgery?
Further treatment after orchectomy depends on the stage of the disease andthe histological type of cancer and may include:
· monitoring
· chemotherapy
· radiation therapy
· surgical intervention or
· combined therapy
Follow-up after treatment.
Monitoring is required for at least 5 years after successful treatment. It is done to detect early recurrence andrecurrence of cancer so that it can be treated in time.
Erection and Libido;
The removal of one testicle and as long as the other is normal does not affectsexual life. Erection and libido continue to subside as before. It is expected that for a short time, mainly for psychological reasons, they will be negatively affected, but very quickly you will return to previous performance.
Fertility?
Fertility, however, can be affectednegatively. Cancer itself negatively affects sperm production, and according to studies in 80% of patients some disturbance of sperm parameters is observed. It is even more likely to be affected in a casewhere additional chemotherapy or radiation is followed.
For these reasons Your doctor will ask you to freeze your sperm before surgery.
In 50% of patients, fertility returns to normal after two years of chemotherapy/radiotherapy, and even more after five years.
Around 20% of men with testicular cancer who undergo chemotherapy will remain permanently infertile.
Prevention.
· Whistleblowers need to be informed and made aware of the prevention aspect.
Women with palpation examine and monitor their breasts, for breast cancer. Men, too, should know that after palpation of the testicles they can prevent and detect a testicular cancer in time.
· Men who have undergone cryopsorchial rehabilitation at an early age are required to be monitored annually after the age of 16.
Men with testicular cancer should freeze their sperm before undergoing an orchectomy to preserve their fertility in the future.
· For two years after chemotherapy there should be NO pregnancy, because the risk of teratogenesis increases.
