Testis Cancer

In its early stages, it often feels like a painless testicular mass. But in more advanced cases, when the cancer has spread, symptoms can include abdominal or back pain, a cough or shortness of breath, headaches or blurry vision, or a lump in the neck area.

Currently, there are two forms of screening for testicular cancer: self-exams and physician exams. Ultrasound is very good at confirming cancer. It’s important to speak with your doctor about what your screening plan needs to be.

The most important and the most common risk factor is a condition called cryptorchidism — or what’s often referred to as undescended testicles. It’s crucial that this condition is diagnosed early — preferably before puberty — and reversed. Research has shown that this can reduce the risk of developing testicular cancer. If the reversal isn’t performed, the chance of developing cancer is higher in the undescended testis.

Also, if you’ve had cancer in one testicle, there’s a higher chance of it developing in the other. This is why it’s so important for survivors of testicular cancer to conduct monthly self-exams and to be followed closely by a physician.

Other risk factors include testicular atrophy and hypospadias (urethra located in the wrong position). There is also some evidence that family history might also increase risk factors.

If the disease is caught early and is still in Stage I — which means it hasn’t spread outside of the testicle — the cure rate is close to 100 percent. At Stage II, that rate drops to approximately 90 percent and beyond that the cure rate can drop further. In some advanced cases, testicular cancer can’t be cured. This is why early detection is so important.

Typically, a combination of surgery and/or chemotherapy is used to treat testicular cancer. Radiation is rarely used. At IU, our goal is to cure the majority of patients while also causing the least amount of toxic side effects. Patients can be so young and they have many, many years of productive life ahead. So, we try to provide just enough adequate therapy — no more, no less.

Men often underestimate how quickly this cancer can grow. So, they might delay seeking medical care, which can be very dangerous. They need to see a physician as soon as they feel any change in their testicles. There’s nothing to be shy or ashamed about. As men, we need to embrace the idea that this is a type of cancer that happens just like any other kind and we should support each other.

I went into oncology because I wanted to make a difference. I hope that my hard work will have a positive impact on patients now, a decade from now, a century from now. I want to give hope where there wasn’t any before.