If you’re like most guys, you probably don’t spend too much time thinking about your testicles. After all, they just seem to do their thing without much thought or worry. Unfortunately, this carefree approach can be dangerous, since many of the symptoms of testicular cancer are subtle or non-specific and can be easily mistaken for something else entirely, like the flu or dehydration, or not even noticed at all until it’s too late! The purpose of this article is to help you understand the symptoms of testicular cancer in order to catch it early enough to treat it successfully.
Testicular cancer is a condition when cancer cells start to develop in the testicular tissues. The World Cancer Research Journal says it affects about 1.5 per 100,000 people in the world, with Europe having the highest number of cases and African and Asian countries being the least affected. Therefore, its symptoms are definitely not worth setting aside for anything…
Having A Lump In Either Testicle
The primary symptom of testicular cancer is a painless lump or swelling on either testicle. Usually, only one testicle is affected by this, and only a handful of cases have reported swelling for both parts.
It can be a burdensome experience, as the next symptom shows…
Heaviness In The Scrotum
Those with testicular cancer might notice that there might be a weird sensation in the testicle and also feel a certain heaviness in the scrotum.
And could the next symptom be behind this?
Fluid Buildup In The Scrotum
Along with the swelling and the heaviness, patients may experience a condition called a hydrocele, which causes a sudden buildup of fluid in the membrane surrounding the testicle.
Going through your day will be much more difficult…
Pain In The Testicle/Scrotum
Oftentimes, testicular cancer doesn’t cause extreme pain, but according to Cancer Research UK, about 1 in 5 men with testicular cancer would feel pain, numbness, and discomfort in both the testicle and the scrotum.
Testicular cancer can yield some strange symptoms, too…
Shrinking of the Testicles (Testicular Atrophy)
Testicular cancer can actually cause testicular atrophy on rare occasions, which is when the testes shrink due to a loss of germ cells which produce sperm, and the Leydig cells, which produce testosterone. This causes a lower sperm (which then causes infertility) count and lowered testosterone levels.
But it’s not only the testicles and scrotum that suffer…
Pain In The Lower Abdomen And Lower Back
In some instances, testicular cancer cells can spread to the retroperitoneal lymph glands, which are located at the back of the abdomen, which then causes a dull ache in the lower abdomen and the lower back.
The symptoms don’t stop with shrinking testicles…
Breast Enlargement/Tenderness
Crazy as it sounds, but testicular cancer can actually cause gynecomastia. This is due to some testicular tumors producing hormones that cause the breast tissue to grow, making the tissue enlarged and tender.
Swelling does not only occur in the testicles…
Swollen Legs
Some testicular cancer patients have reported swelling on one or both of their legs. This swelling is due to blood clots that occur in the veins, which is a result of the testicular cancer cells affecting the lymph nodes.
Blood clots are likewise responsible for the following…
Respiratory Problems
When a blood clot forms in the lung’s artery, it can cause pulmonary embolism, which causes breathing problems. This can also cause chest pains and spitting up blood.
All of these symptoms can take its toll on the body…
Chronic Fatigue
The American Cancer Society notes that fatigue is present among 80-100% of cancer patients. In this case, some testicular cancer patients feel inexplicably weak and tired while suffering from their condition and after receiving treatment for it.
