Testicular cancer is an oncological disease in which the tumor is formed from the epithelial tissues of the male gonads.
There are two types of this testicular cancer, seminoma and non-seminoma. Both are similar, however, seminoma usually affects men in their 40s and 50s, while nonseminomas are diagnosed in men in their 20s and 30s and grow faster.
Testicular cancer accounts for up to 2% of all malignancies tumors. In most cases, only one testicle is affected, and bilateral cancer accounts for no more than three percent of cases.
Navin Khosla, Senior Pharmacist at From Mars, told Express.co.uk about the importance regular testicular checks.
“While testicular cancer is quite rare compared to other cancers, affecting about one in 250 people, it is still one of the most common cancers in men aged 15 to 35, highlighting the importance of understanding the warning signs and knowing how to properly check the testicles, he noted.
According to the expert, some of the most common signs of testicular cancer can be easily noticed, such as pain or swelling, but this does not apply to everyone and some symptoms are not easy to detect, so it is important to check the testicles at least once a month.
One such warning sign is a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, Khosla stressed.
Other four common symptoms to look out for are:
- Swelling or lump in the testicle(s) that does not cause pain
- Feeling of increased hardness in the testicle(s)
- Dull or sharp pain in the testicle(s) or scrotum, which may come and go
- The difference in appearance between the two testicles.
How to perform a testicular cancer test yourself:
The regularity of the test is once a month. After a hot shower (warmth will relax the scrotum, which will facilitate the procedure), you need to stand in front of the mirror and first examine the scrotum for swelling and redness. Then, one by one, feel the testicles. Normally, the testicle is painless, has a dense texture, a smooth surface, without seals and nodules.
Symptoms of testicular cancer, which are distinguished by Russian doctors:
- an increase in testicle size, pain when touched;
- a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum;
- the appearance of seals or nodules, fluid in it;
- pain in the lower abdomen, sometimes radiating to the groin or thigh;
- pain radiating to the legs or lower back;< /li>
- decreased desire;
- enlargement of both mammary glands.
7 signs of testicular cancer that all men need to know
On in the later stages, signs of cancer intoxication are possible: weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss.
The feeling of “heaviness” in the scrotum signals testicular cancer
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Important! Information provided for reference only. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and under no circumstances self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, consult a doctor.