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There are no proven ways to prevent testicular cancer.

Many testicular cancers are first discovered by self-examination as a painless lump or an enlarged testicle.

preventing testicular cancer starts with knowing your risk – deCODEme calculates your genetic risk for testicular germ cell tumors

Preventing testicular cancer

Unfortunately, there is no effective way to prevent the development of testicular cancer. This is mainly because so little is known about risk factors. Since the known risk factors are hard to avoid, the best preventive strategy is to catch testicular cancer as early as possible, while it is still easy to treat. This can best be achieved by regular testicular self-exams to look for signs of cancer of the testicles.

Early signs of testicular cancer include, lumps, aching and swelling

In 9 out of 10 cases of testicular cancer, the man has a lump on a testicle or notices that the testicle is swollen. The lump is often painless, but it can be uncomfortable. Men with testicular cancer may also have other symptoms related to swelling of the affected testicle, or to excess hormones produced by the cancer cells (more about testicular cancer symptoms here).

Treatment of testicular cancer

Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment

Testicular cancer is almost always curable if detected early. It can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these. The treatment options are determined by the stage of the disease and by the degree to which it has spread.

The staging system for testicular cancer is quite detailed, but the main stages are:

• Stage I: The cancer is confined to the testicle. These tumors are generally easily treatable, such that 95% or more cases are cured.
• Stage II: The cancer has spread to lymph nodes. Treatment options depend on subclassifications.
• Stage III: The cancer has spread beyond the lymph nodes to other remote sites in the body, for example the lungs, brain, liver, and bones.
• Recurrent: If the cancer recedes with treatment, but later returns, it is called a recurrent disease. It may recur in the same place or in another part of the body.

Surgery is generally the first step in treatment

When a testicular lump or other possible signs of testicular cancer are detected, one of the first tests performed by doctors is usually an ultrasound of the testicles. If testicular cancer is suspected, the most reliable means of diagnosis is for a pathologist to examine a biopsy from the tumor under a microscope. A traditional biopsy, using a needle through the skin is however, not performed when diagnosing testicular cancer, because this can complicate future treatment options. To obtain the tissue sample, the affected testicle is usually removed entirely through the groin in an operation called orchiectomy). In most cases, this type of surgery is also the first step in treatment.

More complex procedures may be required if the cancer has spread

More advanced surgical procedures may be required if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may also be used in combination with surgery in patients with advanced or metastatic testicular cancer. In general, treatment and prognosis depend on the type and grade of testicular cancer. You can read more about treatment options by stage here.

Removal of one testicle should not affect the function of the other

Removing a testicle should not lead to fertility problems or prevent a normal sex life. The remaining testicle will continue making sperm and the male hormone testosterone. For cosmetic and psychological reasons, some men may choose to have a testicular prosthesis surgically implanted in the scrotum which looks and feels like a normal testicle.

Certain treatments for testicular cancer can, however, cause infertility that may be permanent. Men, diagnosed with testicular cancer, who wish to have children, should consider sperm banking before receiving treatment. Sperm banking is the process of freezing sperm and storing it for later use.

More information

• Fertility – Having children after testicular cancer treatment – Cancer Research UK
• Testicular Cancer Treatment – National Cancer Institute

This content was last reviewed on February 09, 2010.

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