Condition
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is the most common tumor in young men, with a first peak from the start of puberty to age 35. It presents as a painless mass or swelling in the testicle and is treatable and curable even with a late diagnosis, although it is best to see a doctor immediately for any suspicious lesion.
Who does it affect most often?
It is the most common tumor in young men. Its incidence has a first peak from the start of puberty to age 35, and a second peak in the sixth decade of life. Its cause is not entirely clear, although it is associated with cryptorchidism (when a testicle did not descend at birth and either descended later during childhood or was corrected surgically).
What are the symptoms?
It presents as a small mass or a painless swelling in the testicle: it is generally a hard, painless lesion that can grow over time. Any suspicious lesion in the testicle is an emergency and should be seen by a specialist immediately: a hard, solid lesion in the testicle should be considered testicular cancer until proven otherwise.
How is it diagnosed?
An ultrasound performed by experienced hands can tell whether a lesion is a cyst, an inflammation of the epididymis, or truly a solid testicular tumor. If the physical exam and the ultrasound are suspicious, the patient must undergo surgery to remove the lesion, since the probability that it is cancer is above 90%. There are many types of testicular tumors, some benign and others more aggressive: it is not known for certain which type it is until the testicle is removed and studied histopathologically.
How is it treated?
Once the type of tumor is known, it is determined whether the patient is a candidate for observation, lymph node removal surgery (retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy), chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. Testicular cancer is treatable and curable even when diagnosed late, although that is neither the ideal scenario nor the simplest one.
