ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Testicular cancer

What is testicular cancer?

4 May 2021

It is the most common cancer in adolescents and young men. It usually starts in the testicular cells that produce immature sperm, which are altered for unknown reasons and their uncontrolled growth causes a kind of mass in the testicle. If detected early, it is one of the most treatable cancers with the best prognosis. Certain conditions can favor the appearance of testicular cancer, such as:

  • Family background.
  • Abnormal testicular development.
  • Although it can appear at any age, there is a higher incidence between the ages of 15 to 35.
  • Cryptorchidism or undescended testicles.
  • HIV/AIDS.
  • Smoking.
  • Klinefelter syndrome.

There are two types of testicular cancer:

  • Seminoma. These tumors occur more frequently in older adults and are usually less aggressive.
  • Not seminoma. They appear at an early age and usually develop quickly, being classified into:
  • Embryonic carcinoma.
  • Choriocarcinoma.
  • Teratoma.
  • From the yolk sac.

Signs and symptoms Testicular cancer

The characteristic symptoms consist of:

  • Sudden accumulation of fluid in the scrotum.
  • Testicular swelling.
  • Abdominal or groin pain.
  • Sore back.
  • Discomfort in a testicle or scrotum.
  • Heaviness in the scrotum.
  • Breast tenderness or enlargement.

Diagnosis and treatment Testicular cancer

To detect it, your doctor, in addition to performing a physical examination and checking your medical history, will request blood tests and imaging studies, such as testicular ultrasound and computed tomography of the abdomen, chest, and pelvis.

Additional tests may also be needed to find out if the cancer has spread to other areas of your body. If the lump is determined to be cancerous, you’ll likely need surgery to remove the testicle and have it tested to find out what type of cancer it is and what to do next.

Treatment and its duration will depend on the type of testicular cancer, how advanced it is, whether it has spread to another part of your body, and your physical condition, but it usually includes: 

  • Radiotherapy.
  • Chemotherapy.

Each case is different and the combination of therapies varies, so your doctor will determine the optimal treatment plan for you. The short-term goal is the remission of the disease and to achieve a total cure in the long term.

Since its opening in 2009, our Cancer Center offers chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments at the level of the best medical centers in the world through a comprehensive care model for cancer patients.

Related centers and departments Testicular cancer

Cancer Center
Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • cancer.org
  • cancer.net
  • cancer.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • medigraphic.com
  • Costilla-Montero A, Guadarrama-Benítez B, Aragón-Castro M, et al. Cáncer testicular. Experiencia en el Centro Médico del Instituto de Seguridad Social del Estado de México y Municipios (ISSEMyM). Rev Mex Urol. 2011;71(6):307-313.
  • Saavedra AJA, Ramírez CCR, Peña MGA, et al. Cáncer de testículo. Anales de Radiología México. 2009;8(1):47-59.
  • Ávila NÁE, Chávez SGC, Astigueta PJCA. Bilateral metachronous and seminomatous testicular cáncer. RCU. 2019;8(2):130-135.
  • Gurrola-Ortega Á, Sánchez-Núñez JE, Rivera-Astorga H, et al. Testicular cancer: Incidence, epidemiology and etiology. Five years of experience at the Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga. Rev Mex Urol. 2018;78(5):347-353.

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