His scar is small, about four to five inches on his
lower abdomen, just above the groin area. He doesn't really notice it much
anymore, but the six-year memory lives vividly in his mind.
Daniel J. was never aware of the importance of
self-exams for signs of testicular
cancer, until he became a patient himself. As a 25-year-old delivery man at a
local flower shop in Oakland, Calif., with no health insurance, he was more than
unprepared when the situation arose. Looking back, he is surprised how little is
done to inform the male population of the dangers of
testicular cancer throughout adolescence.
"I came home from work on a Saturday, and within a couple
of hours, I started feeling pain in my groin," Daniel said. "My scrotum was swollen
and tender."
Thinking he had simply strained himself at work that day,
Daniel took a nap, hoping it would just go away. But when he woke up later that
evening, the pain was still there.
Daniel recalls doing a quick search online to figure out
what his symptoms meant. Among the possibilities, he saw the words testicular
cancer and started to become nervous.
"It was just a possibility at that moment, so I didn't have
any specific reason to believe that was the cause," Daniel said. "I went to the
emergency room, and I was clinging to the hope that it was a hernia or something
simple. Anything but cancer."
Testicular cancer is a disease in which cells become malignant
(cancerous) in one or both testicles.
The testicles (also called testes or gonads) are a pair of male sex glands.
They produce and store sperm and are the main source of testosterone (male
hormones) in men. These hormones control the development of the reproductive
organs and other male physical characteristics. The testicles are located under
the penis in a sac-like pouch called the scrotum.
Based on the characteristics of the cells in the tumor,
testicular cancers are classified as seminomas or nonseminomas. Other types of
cancer that arise in the testicles are rare and are not described here.
Seminomas may be one of three types: classic, anaplastic, or spermatocytic. Types of nonseminomas include choriocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, teratoma, and yolk sac tumors. Testicular tumors may contain both seminoma and nonseminoma cells.
Testicular cancer accounts for only 1 percent of all cancers in men in the
United States. About 8,000 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer, and about
390 men die of this disease each year. Testicular cancer occurs most often
in men between the ages of 20 and 39, and is the most common form of cancer in
men between the ages of 15 and 34. It is most common in white men, especially
those of Scandinavian descent. The testicular cancer rate has more than doubled
among white men in the past 40 years, but has only recently begun to increase
among black men. The reason for the racial differences in incidence is not
known.
What are the risk factors for testicular cancer?
The exact causes of testicular cancer are not known. However, studies have
shown that several factors increase a man's chance of developing this disease.
Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism):
Normally, the testicles descend from inside the abdomen into the scrotum
before birth. The risk of testicular cancer is increased in males with a
testicle that does not move down into the scrotum. This risk does not change
even after surgery to move the testicle into the scrotum. The increased risk
applies to both testicles.
Congenital abnormalities: Men born with abnormalities of the testicles,
penis, or kidneys, as well as those with inguinal hernia (hernia in
the groin area, where the thigh meets the abdomen), may be at increased risk.
History of testicular cancer: Men who have had testicular cancer are at increased risk of
developing cancer in the other testicle.
Family history of testicular cancer: The risk for testicular cancer is
greater in men whose brother or father has had the disease.
A hernia is an opening or weakness in the muscular structure of the wall of the abdomen. This defect causes a bulging of the abdominal wall. Symptoms of a hernia include pain or discomfort and a localized swelling somewhere on the surface of the abdomen or in the groin area.
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Testicular pain, or pain in the testicle or testicles are caused by a variety of diseases or conditions such as testicular trauma, testicular torsion, testicular cancer, epididymitis, and orchitis. Common symptoms of pain in the testicle or testicles are abdominal pain, urinary pain or incontinence, fever, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the scrotum or testicle. Treatment depends on the cause of the testicular pain or pain in the testicles.
Gynecomastia, an enlargement of the gland tissue in the male breast is the caused by an imbalance of hormones. Certain medical conditions may also lead to gynecomastia such as cirrhosis, malnutrition, disorders of the male sex organs, kidney failure, thyroid disorders, and medications. Gynecomastia is generally treated with medication, and if necessary surgery.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Hydrocele is a collection of clear fluid in a thin walled sack that also contains the testicle. Hydroceles are more common in males than females. There are two types of hydroceles: 1) communicating and 2)non-communicating. Hydroceles present at birth may resolve on their own. Hydroceles that appear in the teen or adult years may require surgery.
Men's health is an important component to a happy lifestyle and healthy relationships. Eating healthy, exercise, managing stress, and knowing when to have medical tests for a particular age is key to disease prevention in men.
Most often, caregivers take care of other adults who are ill or disabled. Less often, caregivers are grandparents raising their grandchildren. The majority of caregivers are middle-aged women. Caregiving can be very stressful, so it's important to recognize when it's putting to much strain on you and to take steps to prevent/relieve stress.
A vasectomy is a simple operation designed to make a man sterile, or unable to father a child. It is used as a means of contraception in many parts of the world. A total of about 50 million men have had a vasectomy -- a number that corresponds to roughly 5% of all married couples of reproductive age. In comparison, about 15% of couples rely on female sterilization for birth control.
Approximately half a million vasectomies are performed in the United States each year. About one out of six men over age 35 has been vasectomized, the prevalence increasing along with education and income. Among married couples in this country, only female sterilization and oral contraception are relied upon more often for family planning.
Vasectomy involves blocking the tubes through which sperm pass into the semen. Sperm are produced in a man's testis and stored in an adjacent structure known as the epididymis. During sexual climax, the sperm move from the...