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Testicular cancer affects men aged 15 to 50 years, being the most common solid tumor among young individuals, second only to hematological diseases. Although it is curable in 95% of cases, it is associated with a strong social stigma, because the treatment requires the removal of the affected testicle, which leads the patient to fear for the future of their sexual life and fertility.
Although rare, testicular cancer is an important public health problem due to the emotional and socioeconomic impact on individuals who are at the peak of their sexual life, reproductive phase and professional career. Worldwide, it accounts for 1% of male tumors and 5% of urological malignancies.
Understanding cancer and its signs
Testicular cancer can derive from any type of cell found in the testicles. Tumors are divided into two large groups: non-seminomatous and seminomatous. The first is more common in men under 30. Diagnosis combines a doctor’s palpation, imaging tests – ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging – and blood tests, as non-seminomatous tumors can be identified by markers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (ß- HCG).
The initial symptoms are the enlargement and hardening of the testicle and the appearance of nodules, similar in size to a pea. Doctor Daniel Herchenhorn, from Oncologia D’Or, explains that the nodules, although painless, cause a certain discomfort that can be confused with an inflammatory process, such as orchitis. “Therefore, it is important to consult a urologist to obtain the correct diagnosis and undergo appropriate treatment”, he considers.
Doctor Rafaela Pozzobon, from Oncologia D’Or, encourages men to carry out a regular self-examination of their testicles in order to identify a sign of an anomaly, such as a lump, and visit the urologist regularly. “Just as a woman goes to the gynecologist, a man should also see a urologist to assess his health status”, she advises.
Are drugs, sports and obesity risk factors?
Testicular cancer has a higher incidence in white men and individuals with a personal or family history of the disease, especially first-degree relatives, such as fathers and brothers. People with rare genetic syndromes, such as Klinefelter syndrome and Down syndrome, can develop the disease. Men who have had cryptorchidism, a condition that occurs when one or both testicles have not descended into the scrotum before birth, are at increased risk for the disease.
According to doctor Daniel Herchenhorn, there are many controversies regarding whether legal or illicit drugs have the potential to increase the risk of the disease. “There is no scientific evidence about an association between alcohol, smoking and testicular cancer. But there is a study published in 2019, in California, in the United States, showing a higher incidence of testicular cancer in people who regularly use marijuana”, he ponders. Some studies indicate that obese men are more prone to the disease.
