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Testicular cancer: signs doctors look for
In about 90 percent of cases, men have a lump on a testicle that is often painless but slightly uncomfortable, or they may notice testicular enlargement or swelling. Men with testicular cancer often report a sensation of heaviness or aching in the lower abdomen or scrotum.
In rare cases, men with germ cell cancer notice breast tenderness or breast growth. This symptom occurs because certain types of germ cell tumors secrete high levels of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which stimulates breast development. Blood tests can measure HCG levels. These tests are important in diagnosis, staging and follow-up of some testicular cancers.
Leydig cell tumors and Sertoli cell tumors also result in a mass that can only be distinguished by examining the germ cell tumor under a microscope. However, Leydig cell tumors produce androgens. These hormones may cause symptoms that provide clues to the correct diagnosis. Breast growth or loss of sexual desire is a symptom of estrogen-producing tumors. Androgen-producing tumors may not cause any specific symptoms in men, but in boys they can cause growth of facial and body hair at an abnormally early age.
Even when testicular cancer has spread to other organs, only about one man in four may experience symptoms related to the metastases prior to diagnosis. Lower back pain is a frequent symptom of later-stage testicular cancer. If the cancer has spread to the lungs and is advanced, shortness of breath, chest pain, cough or bloody sputum may develop. Occasionally men will complain of central abdominal pain, due either to enlargement of lymph nodes or spread to the liver.
Some men with testicular cancer have no symptoms at all, and their cancer is found during medical testing for other conditions. Sometimes imaging tests done to find the cause of infertility can uncover a small testicular cancer. Testicular biopsies to evaluate infertile men may find carcinoma in situ.
A number of noncancerous conditions, such as testicle injury, can produce symptoms similar to those of testicular cancer. Inflammation of the testicle, known as orchitis, can cause painful swelling. Causes of orchitis include viral or bacterial infections.
Males with any of the signs or symptoms described should discuss them with their doctor. The sooner an accurate diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment can begin and the more effective treatment will be.
—Source American Cancer Society
In rare cases, men with germ cell cancer notice breast tenderness or breast growth. This symptom occurs because certain types of germ cell tumors secrete high levels of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which stimulates breast development. Blood tests can measure HCG levels. These tests are important in diagnosis, staging and follow-up of some testicular cancers.
Leydig cell tumors and Sertoli cell tumors also result in a mass that can only be distinguished by examining the germ cell tumor under a microscope. However, Leydig cell tumors produce androgens. These hormones may cause symptoms that provide clues to the correct diagnosis. Breast growth or loss of sexual desire is a symptom of estrogen-producing tumors. Androgen-producing tumors may not cause any specific symptoms in men, but in boys they can cause growth of facial and body hair at an abnormally early age.
Even when testicular cancer has spread to other organs, only about one man in four may experience symptoms related to the metastases prior to diagnosis. Lower back pain is a frequent symptom of later-stage testicular cancer. If the cancer has spread to the lungs and is advanced, shortness of breath, chest pain, cough or bloody sputum may develop. Occasionally men will complain of central abdominal pain, due either to enlargement of lymph nodes or spread to the liver.
Some men with testicular cancer have no symptoms at all, and their cancer is found during medical testing for other conditions. Sometimes imaging tests done to find the cause of infertility can uncover a small testicular cancer. Testicular biopsies to evaluate infertile men may find carcinoma in situ.
A number of noncancerous conditions, such as testicle injury, can produce symptoms similar to those of testicular cancer. Inflammation of the testicle, known as orchitis, can cause painful swelling. Causes of orchitis include viral or bacterial infections.
Males with any of the signs or symptoms described should discuss them with their doctor. The sooner an accurate diagnosis is made, the sooner treatment can begin and the more effective treatment will be.
—Source American Cancer Society
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