Warning Signs of Testicular Cancer ( Men Please Read )
71Cancerous Mass
Causes of Testicular Cancer
One of the many things that many men forget about, is there own health and gentlemen I am here to tell you, that although you may dislike the atmosphere of a Doctors office and fear of needles and probing , preventive maintenance on yourself will enable you to be with the person you love and care for longer. Don't act like a stubborn mule and when you finally decide to seek advice it could be a little to late.
The exact cause or causes of testicular cancer is still unkown. however there are factors that could increase the risk for testicular cancer which are included but not limited to the following:
1. Abnormal Testicle Development , yes gentleman this can happen as not all of them are perfect and there isn't any need to chuckle as it can happen.
2. Exposure to certain chemicals and HIV infection this pertains to all males both heterosexual and homesexual as no man will be left behind on this statement.
3. Family History of Testicular Cancer can also increase the risk
4. History of undescended testicles, this meaning they did not drop like normal and the list can go on.
White males are more likely to develop the cancer versus African American males. White males are also two times likely to develop the cancer over Asian males as well.
Types of Testicular Cancers
Although there can be a small variety , the two main types of testicular cancers are:
Seminoma: Slow growing and found in men in there 30's and 40's ,it stays normally in the testes however it can spread to the lymph nodes if found to late or left untreated. If the Doctor says it should be treated immediately don't ignore the doctor's orders take a deep breath and focus on a positive outlook. There are many types of drugs to fight Seminoma if caught early.
Nonseminoma: More of a common cancer and chooses to grow more rapidly , as nonseminomas are made up of different cell types , and are identified by the cells themselves. This form of cancer includes: Yolk Sac Tumor, Embryonal Carcinoma, Teratoma and Choriocarcinoma which can be rare.
Stromal tumors are rare and normally not cancerous and there are also two types of these, Leydig Tumors and Sertoli cell tumors. Leydig releases the hormone call testosterone and Sertoli is where the sperm develops and matures.
Warning Signs
If any of the following symptoms I can not stress it enough as you should seek a physician as leaving anything untreated can cause you long-term issues or even death. Cancer drugs are utilized if caught early so early detection is the key to a healthy recovery.
1. Continual Dull ache in the back or lower abdomen , gentleman don't always take this as I have a bad back, unless you definitely know have it check out.
2. Enlarged testicle or how it feels , please don't take it as I bumped into something or my wife or significant other kicked me while I was sleeping and it will go down.
3. Discomfort or pain in the testicle or heaviness felt in the scrotum
4. Lump or swelling in either testicle. Yes check them out don't be afraid of them, they are yours.
5. Symptoms in other parts of the body pelvis, lungs, abdomen , brain. I am not trying to put fear in anyone but like I tell the ladies don't ignore your body.
6. And there may end up being not a single symptom at all and it just lies there waiting to strike like a snake in the grass.
Getting a yearly exam can eliminate or catch the cancers or non-cancers and your doctor will be able to explain the tests. treatment and prognosis so that you can rest better known that you took the extra mile to recieve the proper care.
copyright © 2008
Routine Check up
When is the last time you had a routine check up?
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Rob, I am certainly happy that you agree as my husband has done the same thing, but love and perserverance has pushed him through to get his regualr check ups.:)
Great informative hub. Thank you for writing it.
I certainly hope that the gentleman will pay attention as losing a loved one is a very sad thing. All of us should pay attention and thanks for the comment. :)
Thanks for the great advice.
You are absolutely welcome and I thank you as a Doctor for rading them:)
I think that it is great that your pointing this out to many men.
Thank you, I just wish they would adhere to the warnings :(
Thanks. I'd been meaning to look up the signs & symptoms. This is just what I needed!
AEvans, very good imformation but unfortunatly a lot of men think they are immortal and nothing like this will happen to them.
I hope that they read your Hub and take your advice.
agvulpes, I do too as many of us would be lost without our men by our side. We are all supposed to gorw old together and if many would understand what they mean to us, then maybe an only maybe will they get their check-ups as well. :)
AE
"We are all supposed to grow old together and if many would understand what they mean to us,"
How true that statement is, for both men and women.
Maybe if each of us actually told our partners how much we mean to each other, instead of assuming they understand, we would raise our relationships to a whole new level.
I certainly agree with you 110% :)
Thank you, AEvans, for writing about this important topic in such a factual way. It is definitely something that all men should read and heed. Thank you!
Christoph, You are welcome and I definitely hope more read, thank you for stopping by.:)
Great article! Great information. Too many times men refuse to admit to carrying pain. (It's a guy thing. Kinda like asking for or reading directions.) I suppose some look at it as not showing a weakness. Some guys, (Okay, a lot of guys) look at themselves as care givers, forgetting the fact that it is difficult to continue in that role when they are, say,....Dead.
Fortunately, for me, my vet gives me a clean bill of health, physically. Thanks for the great Hub!
I have no fear of doctors or checkups I see mine every three months. good hub.
akeejaho, I thank you for reading and sharing at least some of the men have the sense to get checked. I wish they all would, and they would be around for their families and friends instead of waiting until it is to late.
Bob, That shows me that you are strong and that you would rather be alive, then be gone. Your wife should be honored and proud that you are a responsible and caring enough to get your routine check-up. :)
I have felt a lump on one of my testicles for monthS. Getting it checked monday. Im 26. And scared to death.
Billy: Always stay positive I understand you are afraid however with technology , testing and results keep your head up, as again you the best thing you did was get it checked and please follow up.:)
Please change "gentleman" to "gentlemen". It's really annoying.
SSK: Thank you for the correction and I certainly did change it, I did not have the chance to proofread it again, so thank you it is corrected. :)
My brother in law had testicular cancer. He got surgery and lost one testicle. He has it under control.
wendy: I am happy to hear the positive results and thanks for sharing your story. :)
I was diagnosed with every form of non-seminoma testicular cancer you mentioned this article back in October. I had absolutely no symptoms and it progressed for what docs think was well over a year before it was caught. The only reason that it was diagnosed at all was because of a coincidental benign tumor which swelled up over the course of a month. Scary as it sounds, sometimes the cancer develops in ways that can't be detected save by protein markers and CT Scans. Bummer, I know.
Jarn: I am certainly happy that you are fine after everything you have gone through, hopefully this will be a story that others will pay attention to. :)
Thanks for the review AEvans! It's not easy for men to check this, but we all should!!
Ben
Ben Zoltak: I believe that more men should have this checked, more lives would be saved and I thank you for reading.:)
Great hub. You have done us men a great service. You are very thoughtful to help. God Bless you.
stars439: You are welcome being married those are things that I always tend to think about. God Bless to you too! :)
Very imformative! I had a friend in the rodeo's when I was younger that developed this & his pride cost him his life!
Michael Shane: That is so sad sometimes pride should not get in the way of a man's lfe, we like having you guys around for awhile. :) Love the pic of you and yours it is beautiful! :)
thanks for the advice there aren't too many ladies who would step up and shed some light on the situation.
vonnie: You are welcome and if I can aide with planting seeds and trying to give knowledge then I know I have not done anything in vane.
I was diagnosed in September 2008. Been fighting 4 types of testicular cancer ever since. I did regular checks, but there was no sign. Then, over the course of a month, one testicle swelled up to the size of a plum. Turns out it was a teratoma, a benign tumor. The malignant cancers had been growing for a few years already and made it to just below my lungs via my lymphatic system. I'm a walking zipper now, am suffering from serious long-term chemotherapy effects, and am not even 28 yet.
The doctors tell me that if the teratoma hadn't sprung up, I'd be dead now, instead of just a shadow of who I was. What I'm trying to get across is that self-exams don't catch all testicular cancers. The only way to be sure is to have a pair of blood tests called an alpha-feta protein marker and a beta HcG. They actually look for some of the same enzymes that pregnant women have. They're cheap, extremely effective, and should be done at least once a year. I can't for the life of me understand why doctors don't do them as a matter of course.
Aevans, you've got a plethora of good articles here on an excellent range of topics. Do you write professionally, by chance? Either way, what motivates you to keep up with it? I've been trying for years now, and after a while of no one ever reading them or caring, I can't help but ask myself why I should bother anymore.
Jarn: You have given great advice. I will also be praying for you and your recovery. You are so young and I wish you all of the best with your health. From what I can see you are a fighter and there needs to be more people in the world who fight! Hope if you have not already wrote about your courage and fight with cancer you will. You are a deacon of light. :)
Rob Jundt Level 4 Commenter 3 years ago
Thank you for shedding light on this topic. As a young 41 year-old male, I understand what you say.
Men are a stubborn bunch. We need to shove pride aside and just do what is best for us and our families.