Young Men & Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is not very common, but according to the Mayo Clinic, the disease is most prevalent cancer in young men between the ages of 15 and 34. The cancer is very treatable, even if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, and self-examinations can help patients to detect cancer growths early so that treatment can begin right away.
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Fatigue
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Fatigue for reasons that can't be explained could be a symptom of testicular cancer. Men who experience fatigue even while getting adequate sleep each night and eating well should consult their doctors about testing for testicular cancer if the fatigue persists.
Testicular Enlargement
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A lump or enlargement in either testicle may also be a symptom of testicular cancer. A doctor can show patients how to check for lumps, the same way that women have to do self examination to check for breast cancer. Enlargement or breast tenderness in males can also be a sign of testicular cancer.
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Undescended Testicle
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Cryptorchidism, or an undescended testicle, is one of the risk factors for testicular cancer. During fetal development, the testicles form in the abdominal area and descend into the scrotum before the baby is born; but according to the Mayo Clinic, most men who develop cancer don't have an undescended testicle.
Genetics
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Men with a family history of testicular cancer are at greater risk for developing the disease. White men are also more likely to develop testicular cancer than black men.
Treatment
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Surgery to remove the testicle that has been affected by cancer is the primary method of treatment. Some men may also benefit from radiation therapy if the cancer is non-seminoma, or limited to the testicles.
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