What Are Symptoms Of Testicular Cancer?

The National Cancer Institute lists these possible symptoms of testicular cancer:

• a lump or swelling in either testicle
• an enlargement of a testicle or a change in the way it feels
• a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• an accumulation of fluid in the scrotum
• pain or discomfort in the testicles or scrotum
• a dull ache in the groin or lower abdominal area

I describe these as possible symptoms because they may also indicate other conditions. Any of these changes warrants a visit to the doctor. Men shouldn’t ignore these symptoms, because if it does turn out to be cancer, early diagnosis and treatment improve the odds for a cure and full recovery. This is a curable cancer when caught early.

Annually, more than 7,000 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer in the United States. Most are between the ages of 15 and 35, an unusually young age range for cancer. Treatment for testicular cancer has been a tremendous success story, though, with a five-year survival rate that now tops 95 percent for all cancer stages.

Nevertheless, about 300 men die each year from this disease. This is why men are advised to perform monthly self-exams of their testicles, so that if cancer occurs, it can be treated as early as possible.