Oncological diseases are perhaps the most common after cardiovascular in frequency of occurrence and potential mortality. Malignant lesions of the male genital area occupy a “worthy” place in the structure of oncopathologies. However, prostate cancer is most common. A disease such as testicular cancer affects the stronger sex relatively rarely (no more than 3-6% of all cases), but this form of cancer is particularly aggressive and without timely treatment is guaranteed to lead to a quick death. To be fully armed, you need to know the enemy in person.
Causes of testicular cancer in men
As already mentioned, testicular cancer is a very rare pathology. In the vast majority of cases, oncologists meet with germinogenic tumors: that is, tumors originating from the remains of germinal tissues. And this means that for the most part, testicular cancer is congenital or, more precisely, has a congenital predisposition. Whether the tumor development mechanism starts up or not depends on many factors. This does not mean that all testicular cancerous tumors are germinogenic. About 5% of formations are formed from other tissues. The same factors cause the development of other tumors. Among them:
• Genetic factors. They can cause testicular cancer in men. If among the closest relatives on the ascending line there was a man with genital oncology, the risk of getting sick becomes 75% higher.
• Subtle physique. Asthenic physique is a risk factor (for unexplained reasons).
• White skin color. Testicular cancer primarily affects white men. They have a 12-fold higher risk of developing oncology compared to Negroids and Asians.
• The presence of diseases of the genital organs. These include testicular torsion, testicular prolapse, and others. Such a disease triple the risk of pathology.
• History of testicular cancer. If the patient was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the past, there is always a chance of a second testis in the long term of 10 years.
• The presence of HIV. The immunodeficiency virus increases the likelihood of the disease at times, since the immune system is not able to track and destroy atypical cells.
• Imbalance in the hormonal sphere. If there are endocrine diseases that lead to an excessive increase in testosterone and other sex hormones, this can cause testicular cancer in a man.
• Infertility. Absolutely sterile men are three times more likely to suffer from testicular cancer.
• Interaction with ionizing healing.
• The presence of bad habits. Smoking is a real scourge of men and one of the most common causes of cancer, including testicular cancer. Another bad habit is to wear tight and uncomfortable underwear. Genital overheating is fraught with an increased risk of developing the disease.
Most testicular cancer affects young men aged 14 to 38 years. This age group needs to be especially careful.
Testicular cancer in men: first symptoms
Signs of testicular cancer in men, as well as the clinical picture as a whole, are very typical.
• The disease begins with the formation of a dense rounded node of regular or irregular shape in the thickness of the scrotum. An attentive man will immediately notice such a change. The node may be painful or painless.
• Along with the formation of the node, a pressing sensation in the testicular region is noted. The reason for this is the compression of surrounding tissues by a growing tumor. It causes discomfort. These are the first symptoms of testicular cancer in men.
• Swelling and swelling of the testicles. Due to compression, fluid accumulates in the tissues. As the tumor process develops, the scrotum can significantly increase in size.
• General signs of intoxication with decomposition products. Signs of testicular and male cancer include common symptoms of cancer. This temperature (up to 38 degrees), headache, weakness, sudden weight loss. The source of the problem lies in the constant poisoning of the body by the decay products of the tumor. At a certain point, it begins to grow so fast that malignant cells lack nutrition and they die.
• Pain in the lower abdomen and scrotum. Caused by irradiation from the primary source.
• In the future, the appendages are affected. This is fraught with a change in the hormonal background of the man. Hormonal background can be inclined both to increase and to lower levels of testosterone and other active substances in the blood. In the first case, strong body hair growth will develop, in the second, female signs (gynecomastia, etc.) will begin to appear in the body of a man.
• At the advanced stages of the disease, metastasis of the primary tumor occurs when its particles are transferred with the flow of blood and lymph to distant organs. During this period, focal symptoms are added: respiratory failure, jaundice, etc.
Diagnosis of testicular cancer
Diagnosis of testicular cancer is not significant. The diagnosis can be suspected already at the first visit to the doctor's office. If a person suspects cancer of the testicle, consultation with an andrologist is recommended. The standard diagnostic strategy begins with a patient survey. This procedure is called history taking. During the survey, the doctor clarifies the nature and intensity of the patient's complaints, assesses the situation.
During the initial consultation, the doctor conducts a physical examination and palpates the genitals, trying to identify nodules. Already at this stage, the specialist is able to identify the problem.
The next stage of research is instrumental. The most informative way to detect a tumor is an ultrasound examination of the scrotum cavity (ultrasound). With it, you can visualize the structure of organs, assess their condition, minus the method - the inability to reliably identify the prevalence of the process.
For this reason, MRI / CT diagnostics are prescribed to assess how far the process has gone. This is an expensive but informative study.
Scintigraphy is used to study possible distant metastases.
Laboratory studies practically do not provide the necessary information. The only necessary tests are tests for tumor markers (ACE, LDH, hCG).
Testicular cancer in men: treatment
The essence of treatment is the use of chemotherapeutic drugs, radiation therapy and surgery. Testicular cancer is a serious pathology. It often leads to death, so gentle operations are not practiced. Treatment of testicular cancer in men involves the removal of the affected organ. With a common process, affected lymph nodes and organ metastases are removed.
Despite the high invasiveness of the procedure, the operation gives good results in survival (combined with radiation and chemotherapy): for example, five-year survival in the first stage of cancer is more than 95%, in the second and third stages of the development of the disease - more than 50%.
Chemotherapeutic drugs are used in moderate dosages. Radiation therapy is especially effective for germ cell tumors and is used everywhere in patients with testicular cancer.
Testicular cancer in men: prevention
There is no specific prophylaxis of testicular cancer in men. However, it is still possible to reduce the risk of development.
1) It is recommended to quit smoking. As said, nicotine is a terrible enemy of a man.
2) Do not wear tight underwear. Male genitals respond poorly to overheating. Therefore, preference should be given to light and free types of underwear.
3) Genital injuries can also trigger disease. In order to avoid cancer, you should protect yourself from injuries.
4) It is necessary to timely treat congenital and acquired diseases of the male genital area.
5) In the initial stages, it is possible to cure the disease. Therefore, it is worth visiting the andrologist regularly.
Testicular cancer is a serious cancer disease. It refers to polyetiological pathologies, that is, a variety of reasons can cause cancer. Regardless of the cause and type, cancer always remains cancer and requires immediate medical attention. The sooner treatment is started, the higher the chances of a complete cure. Therefore, if a man discovers unknown seals of the testicles, feels discomfort, you need to urgently go to the andrologist. To reduce the risk of cancer, it is enough to adhere to simple preventive recommendations.
