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Testicular Cancer: Symptoms and Signs

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Testicular Cancer: Symptoms and Signs

06 Apr 2017 by Ted Escobedo

Usually, an enlarged testicle or a small lump or area of hardness are the first signs of testicular cancer. Any lump, enlargement, hardness, pain, or tenderness should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Other symptoms of testicular cancer usually do not appear until after the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

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Symptoms of testicular cancer may include:

  • Painless lump or swelling on either testicle. If found early, a testicular tumor may be about the size of a pea or a marble, but it can grow much larger.
  • Pain or discomfort, with or without swelling, in a testicle or the scrotum.
  • Change in the way a testicle feels or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. For example, 1 testicle may become more firm than the other testicle. Or, testicular cancer may cause the testicle to grow bigger or to become smaller.
  • Dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin
  • Sudden buildup of fluid in the scrotum
  • Breast tenderness or growth. Although rare, some testicular tumors produce hormones that cause breast tenderness or growth of breast tissue, a condition called gynecomastia.
  • Lower back pain, shortness of breath, chest pain, and bloody sputum or phlegm can be symptoms of later-stage testicular cancer.
  • Swelling of 1 or both legs or shortness of breath from a blood clot can be symptoms of testicular cancer. A blood clot in a large vein is called deep venous thrombosis or DVT. A blood clot in an artery in the lung is called a pulmonary embolism and causes shortness of breath. For some young or middle-aged men, developing a blood clot may be the first sign of testicular cancer.

Signs of testicular cancer similar to those caused by noncancerous conditions.

Many symptoms and signs of testicular cancer are similar to those caused by noncancerous conditions. These are discussed below:

• Change in size or a lump in a testicle

    • A cyst called a spermatocele that develops in the epididymis. The epididymis is a small organ attached to the testicle that is made up of coiled tubes that carry sperm away from the testicle.
    • An enlargement of the blood vessels from the testicle called a varicocele.
    • A buildup of fluid in the membrane around the testicle called a hydrocele.
    • An opening in the abdominal muscle called a hernia.
  • Alternative causes of pain

• Infection. Infection of the testicle is called orchitis. Infection of the epididymis is called epididymitis. If infection is suspected, a patient may be given a prescription for antibiotics. If antibiotics do not solve the problem, tests for testicular cancer are often needed.

    • Injury
    • Twisting

If you are concerned about any changes you experience, please talk with your doctor. Your doctor will ask how long and how often you’ve been experiencing the symptom(s), in addition to other questions.

Men with testicular cancer may experience a variety of these symptoms or signs.However,in some cases, men with testicular cancer do not experience any of these changes. Please be aware that the cause of a symptom may be another medical condition that is not cancer. So, having these symptoms does not mean that a man definitely has cancer. In all cases, consulting a physician is best if you are concerned about cancer or symptoms.

If cancer is diagnosed, relieving symptoms remains an important part of cancer care and treatment. This may also be called symptom management, palliative care, or supportive care. Be sure to talk with your health care team about symptoms you experience, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms.

Source: Cancer.net

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