There are two types of testicular cancer: germ cell tumour and stromal tumour. Most testicular cancers begin in the cells that make sperm (called ‘germ cells’).
These account for more than 90% of testicular cancer cases. There are two subtypes of germ cell tumours which occur in roughly the same numbers.
These account for less than 5% of testicular cancer. The abnormal cancer cells grow in tissues that surround the germ cells. Many of these cancers are benign (relatively harmless).
Signs of testicular cancer may not be obvious at first and they can also resemble other conditions.
You should see a doctor if you notice any of the following signs:
Even if you detect a lump, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer. But these are major symptoms for testicular cancer, so get them checked out.
Remember, early diagnosis (as with any cancer) is important for your survival. Your doctor will begin with a physical examination.
Blood and urine tests help screen out other possible causes, such as infections. Blood tests can also measure a number of protein indicators (markers) that indicate the presence of cancer.
There may be a need for more conclusive tests, including:
Further tests, such as x-rays, scans, additional blood tests, and tissue analysis, form a clear picture of the cancer’s size and spread. This is known as staging, and it helps doctors map out the best treatment programme for each individual.
Doctors will also give your cancer stage a letter (A, B, C, or S) to give more precise information. Your medical team will discuss your staging results with you and recommend a treatment plan.
The ideal treatment for testicular cancer will depend on a number of factors, including the cancer type and stage, your age, health, and desire to have children.
Treatment of testicular cancer may include:
Surgeons will always remove the testicle (regardless of the cancer stage). This is known as an orchidectomy and was probably already performed when taking your biopsy.
After chemotherapy, doctors will often remove lymph nodes in the abdominal area to stop the cancer from advancing further.
Surgeons may also need to remove tumours from other parts of your body if the cancer has spread.
Side effects of surgery: The removal of a testicle will not usually impact normal sexual function or fertility. Removing both testicles is rarely necessary - however, this process will invoke infertility.
Sometimes the surgical removal of lymph nodes may affect the ability to ejaculate, although there are procedures that can reduce this risk and medications that can help.
Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often used with more advanced cancers or to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.
Side effects of chemotherapy: Because the drugs used in ‘chemo’ will often damage healthy cells there can be a number of side effects including:
Some of these side effects are only temporary, but others are more serious, and may cause long-term issues.
Radiation therapy is only used for specific types of cancers. Doctors usually prefer chemotherapy because it’s more effective for treating testicular cancer.
Your doctors will put a regular monitoring programme in place after your treatment to check for signs of recurrant testicular cancer.
We don’t know what causes testicular cancer but there are a number of risk factors that mean you are more likely to develop the disease.
The following factors increase your risk of having testicular cancer:
A small number of male babies are born with their testicles inside the abdomen. Usually the testicles will descend into the scrotum within the first year of life. If this doesn’t occur naturally, the male may be up to 3 times more likely to develop testicular cancer.
Close male relatives, such as a brother or your father, who have had testicular cancer raise your risk by 4 to 8 times.
If you’ve already had testicular cancer, then you're 12 to 18 times more likely to develop it in the other testicle.
Some evidence suggests that men infected with HIV / AIDs have an increased risk of developing testicular cancer.
You might not have testicular cancer today, and it may not even run in your family, but that’s no guarantee it won’t happen to you or someone you love.
Think about how how much your testicular cancer treatment will cost and how health insurance can help you cope.
Not all health insurance plans are the same. Some plans will only pay for a tiny fraction of your testicular cancer treatment cost.
Don’t let this happen to you. When buying health insurance, talk to a Policywise adviser about maximum benefit amounts for cancer treatments, non-Pharmac cover, inclusions, and any exclusions.
We provide clear, easy-to-understand plan comparisons from different insurers so you can choose the policy with the best cover. Our service is free - and it might just change your life for the better.