Where is testicular cancer usually found

For reasons that are unclear, white men have a higher risk of developing testicular cancer than men from other ethnic groups. The number of cases of testicular cancer diagnosed each year in the UK has roughly doubled since the mids. Again, the reasons for this are unclear. The exact cause or causes of testicular cancer are unknown, but a number of factors have been identified that increase a man's risk of developing it.

Undescended testicles cryptorchidism is the most significant risk factor for testicular cancer. They usually descend into the scrotum during the first year of life, but in some boys the testicles do not descend.

In most cases, testicles that do not descend by the time a boy is a year old descend at a later stage. If the testicles do not descend naturally, an operation known as an orchidopexy can be carried out to move the testicles into the correct position inside the scrotum. It's important that undescended testicles move down into the scrotum during early childhood because boys with undescended testicles have a higher risk of developing testicular cancer than boys whose testicles descend normally.

Men with undescended testicles are about 3 times more likely to develop testicular cancer than men whose testicles descend at birth or shortly after. Stage 3 testicular cancer may remain localized in one or both of the testicles, or it may have spread to nearby or distant areas of the body. When it spreads to distant areas, it is known as metastatic testicular cancer. There are specific areas of the body where metastatic testicular cancer is more likely to be found.

One of the first areas is often the lymph nodes located closest to the testicles. In more advanced cases, metastatic testicular cancer may also be found in the distant lymph nodes in the neck, chest or pelvis. Additional areas where testicular cancer may metastasize include the:. Although metastatic testicular cancer is the most advanced stage of this malignancy, it is still considered treatable.

Treatment often consists of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of two or more treatment methods. Each testicle is somewhat smaller than the size of a golf ball in adult males. These hormones control the development of the reproductive organs and other male characteristics, such as body and facial hair and low voice. In the year , an estimated cases of testicular cancer were diagnosed in the United States, and about of them died of their testicular cancer.

Caucasians are more likely to be diagnosed with testicular cancer than Hispanics, Blacks, or Asians. Of concern, the incidence of testicular cancer around the world has been steadily increasing, basically doubling in the past years.

Most testicular cancer cases are found through a self-examination. The testicles are smooth, oval-shaped, and rather firm. Men who examine themselves routinely become familiar with the way their testicles normally feel. Any changes in the way they feel from month-to-month should be checked by a doctor. See below for self-exam instructions. 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. In the more rare non-germ cell testicular cancers, Leydig cell tumors produce androgens male sex hormones or estrogens female sex hormones. These hormones may cause symptoms such as breast growth or loss of sexual desire, symptoms 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 1 man in 4 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 discomfort, due usually to enlargement of abdominal lymph nodes. Rarely, men will complain of headache, which is associated with brain metastases an uncommon pattern of spread, and usually associated with a certain type of testicular cancer called choriocarcinoma.

It is important to know that a number of noncancerous conditions, such as testicle injury or infection, 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.

A testicular self exam is best performed after a warm bath or shower. Heat relaxes the scrotum, making it easier to spot anything abnormal. The National Cancer Institute recommends following these steps every month:. Various tests are necessary to make the diagnosis of testicular cancer. Your doctor may order several imaging tests and also draw blood to aid in the diagnosis. If a mass is seen in the testicle, these tests are usually followed by surgery to remove the affected testicle s.

A summary of the tests and procedures are below:. Ultrasound An ultrasound can help doctors tell if a testicular mass is solid or fluid filled. Stage IIC: Cancer has spread to at least 1 lymph node or lymph node mass that is larger than 5 cm. Stage III: Cancer has spread to distant lymph nodes or to any organ.

Serum tumor marker levels are unknown. Serum marker levels are normal or only mildly increased. At least 1 serum marker is substantially elevated. At least 1 serum marker is extremely high, and the cancer has spread to at least 1 lymph node or organ. Recurrent: Recurrent cancer is cancer that has come back after treatment.

If the cancer does return, there will be another round of tests to learn about the extent of the recurrence. These tests and scans are often similar to those done at the time of the original diagnosis. If the disease has spread to lymph nodes or other organs, the following system is used to classify a germ cell tumor into a good, intermediate, or poor risk group.

This helps to determine the treatment plan and the likelihood of cure. Patients with a tumor in the intermediate and poor risk groups usually receive more chemotherapy than patients with a tumor in the good risk group. The cancer has not spread to an organ other than the lungs and serum tumor marker levels are normal or slightly elevated, which means:. The cancer has not spread to an organ other than the lungs and the serum tumor marker levels are intermediate, which means:.

The cancer has spread to an organ other than the lungs or the serum tumor marker levels are poor, which means:. The next section in this guide is Types of Treatment.

Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide. Testicular Cancer: Stages Approved by the Cancer.

Doctors use the results from diagnostic tests and scans to answer these questions: Tumor T : How large is the primary tumor? Where is it located? Staging for testicular cancer can also be clinical or pathological: Clinical staging is based on the results of tests other than surgery or biopsy, which may include physical examinations and imaging tests see Diagnosis.

Here are more details on each part of the TNM system for testicular cancer: Tumor T Using the TNM system, the "T" plus a letter or number 0 to 4 is used to describe the size and location of the tumor. For a pure seminoma, this stage is further divided based on the side of the tumor: pT1a. The tumor is smaller than 3 centimeters cm in size. The tumor is 3 cm or larger in size. NX: The regional lymph nodes cannot be evaluated. Metastasis M The "M" in the TNM system describes whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, called distant metastasis.

MX: Distant metastasis cannot be evaluated. M0: The disease has not metastasized to distant lymph nodes or other organs. M1: There is at least 1 distant metastasis. Serum tumor markers S Serum tumor markers also help to stage testicular cancer. SX: Tumor marker levels are not available, or the tests have not been done. S0: Tumor marker levels are normal. Cancer stage grouping Doctors assign the stage of the cancer by combining the T, N, and M classifications and the S level information.

Later-stage testicular cancer: risk group classification If the disease has spread to lymph nodes or other organs, the following system is used to classify a germ cell tumor into a good, intermediate, or poor risk group. Good risk Non-seminoma. Intermediate risk Non-seminoma. Poor risk Non-seminoma.