Testicular Cancer Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Testicular cancer is a disease caused by the multiplication of malignant tumor cells in the testes. This organ is part of the male reproductive glands located in the scrotum. Under normal conditions, the function of the testicles is to secrete the hormone testosterone and produce sperm cells.
Testicular cancer can strike anyone, but it is more often found in young men with an age range of 15–44 years. Only a few cases of testicular cancer were found in children and the elderly.
This disease can be cured. Even the cure rate is very high, but it depends on the stage and how far the cancer has spread. However, the cure rate for testicular cancer can reach 95 percent if the cancer is found early.
Testicular cancer can spread, either slowly or quickly. The spread can be through lymph channels or nearby blood vessels, which will then be carried to the lungs, liver or bones.
Symptom
There are several symptoms of testicular cancer, such as:
- A lump or enlargement of the testicles.
- Pain or discomfort in the testicles or testicles.
- The testicles feel heavy.
- Pain or soreness in the groin, lower abdomen, or waist.
- Testicular cancer can spread to other organs of the body. One of the organs most often the location of the spread of testicular cancer is the lungs. If it has spread to the lungs, complaints of coughing, shortness of breath, or swelling in the chest area can arise.
Reason
As with most cancers, the exact cause of testicular cancer is not known with certainty. However, there are several conditions that make a person more susceptible to testicular cancer, namely:
- Cryptorchidism (testis undescended), namely the condition of the testes that do not descend and enter the scrotal sac
- Congenital abnormalities of the penis
- Inguinal hernia
- There is a history of testicular cancer in the family
- There is a disturbance of testicular development, for example in patients with Klinefelter’s Syndrome
- Ever experienced mumps/mumps
Diagnosis
The doctor will feel the testicles to find out suspected testicular cancer. If the testicles are enlarged, hard, and difficult to move, then the possibility of testicular cancer is quite high.
Checks to ensure this problem include:
- Examination of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) levels from the blood. HCG is a marker of testicular cancer. If there is testicular cancer, generally HDG levels in the blood will be high.
- Testicular ultrasound. This examination can show the presence of tumors and the size of the testicular tumor.
- Biopsy. It is this examination that most determines the diagnosis of testicular cancer. This examination is done by taking a small sample of testicular tissue and examining it in the laboratory.
Treatment
Testicular cancer treatment depends on the stage of testicular cancer experienced. But in general, about 95% of testicular cancer cases can be cured. The earlier the stage, the greater the chance of recovery.
Treatment for testicular cancer includes:
1. Operation
The operation performed was an orchidectomy. This is an operation to remove the testicles to remove all malignant tumor tissue and prevent it from spreading to other organs.
If the removal of the testicles is only done on one side, then the fertility of testicular cancer patients will not be disturbed. Because there is still one more testicle in the testicles that can function.
2. Radiation
After surgery, it is generally necessary to do radiation. The goal is to clean up the remaining malignant tumor cells in the testicular area and in the lymph node area if testicular cancer spreads to the lymph nodes.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is given by infusion or easily swallowed tablets. This treatment is generally performed when testicular cancer is already in an advanced stage.
Prevention
Until now there is no action that can prevent testicular cancer. However, in men who have experienced puberty, it is recommended to carry out periodic self-examination of the testicles while bathing. This is important for early detection of testicular cancer.