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Women and men of different ages are affected by different kinds of cancers today. Testicular cancer is specific to men and occurs in the testicles, even though it may spread to other organs inside the body. Worldwide statistics from 2013 indicate that over 8, 300 people died as a result of this condition. The deaths recorded in 2013 indicated an increase of 1, 300 deaths from 1990. In the United States, 8000 are diagnosed with the condition every year while 2000 are diagnosed with it in the UK.
Despite of aforementioned scary news, this cancer is one amoong the cancers with the highest cure rates. On average, five-year survival rate is at 95%. The five-year survival rate rises to 99% if the condition has not spread to other parts of the body and reduces to 96% if it has spread. The current cure rate offered by chemotherapy is at 80%.
The condition is named depending on the part of the body where it originated. As such, even if it spreads to the lungs, it is still referred to as cancer of the testes. Research indicates that every male in 200 males is at risk of developing the disorder. This kind of cancer is the most commonly observed among males aged between 20 and 39. It is however very rare among males aged below 15 years.
There are diverse symptoms for this disease, but the most pronounced one is lumps in testicles. Self-examinations are encouraged, but routine screen is not. Individuals from families with a history of cancer should be more careful and do more self-examinations. Young people are at a higher risk of developing the disease.
Lumps are sometimes painful and appear in one testis most of the times. Further tests are normally conducted based on presence of lumps. Pain in scrotum or abdomen, lower back pain, the scrotum feeling heavy, and breast enlargement are further symptoms. Signs may appear one at a time or many at once. Lumps in the neck and shortness of breath might be experienced if cancerous cells migrate to the lungs.
Symptoms can sometimes be very confusing especially since epididymitis, varicocele, and hematocele have the same signs. Lump evaluation is performed through scrotal ultrasound. The type of lump is determined by the characteristics identified by the ultrasound. Location and size of tumor are among the characteristics identified.
Extent of disease and location of metastases is done through a CT scan. Blood tests are also used for identifying the disease. Bloodstream has specific proteins that serve as tumor markers. Blood tests identify these tumor markers. Human chorionic gonadotropin, Alpha-fetoprotein, and LDH-1 are among the commonest proteins used as tumor markers in detecting the disease through blood test. Blood tests may not be very efficient.
There are three treatment options available. These options are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Each method is performed by different specialists. Radiation oncologists perform radiation therapy, medical oncologists perform chemotherapy, while urologists perform surgery. Success of treatment depends on the stage of this disease at the time treatment is started.
Despite of aforementioned scary news, this cancer is one amoong the cancers with the highest cure rates. On average, five-year survival rate is at 95%. The five-year survival rate rises to 99% if the condition has not spread to other parts of the body and reduces to 96% if it has spread. The current cure rate offered by chemotherapy is at 80%.
The condition is named depending on the part of the body where it originated. As such, even if it spreads to the lungs, it is still referred to as cancer of the testes. Research indicates that every male in 200 males is at risk of developing the disorder. This kind of cancer is the most commonly observed among males aged between 20 and 39. It is however very rare among males aged below 15 years.
There are diverse symptoms for this disease, but the most pronounced one is lumps in testicles. Self-examinations are encouraged, but routine screen is not. Individuals from families with a history of cancer should be more careful and do more self-examinations. Young people are at a higher risk of developing the disease.
Lumps are sometimes painful and appear in one testis most of the times. Further tests are normally conducted based on presence of lumps. Pain in scrotum or abdomen, lower back pain, the scrotum feeling heavy, and breast enlargement are further symptoms. Signs may appear one at a time or many at once. Lumps in the neck and shortness of breath might be experienced if cancerous cells migrate to the lungs.
Symptoms can sometimes be very confusing especially since epididymitis, varicocele, and hematocele have the same signs. Lump evaluation is performed through scrotal ultrasound. The type of lump is determined by the characteristics identified by the ultrasound. Location and size of tumor are among the characteristics identified.
Extent of disease and location of metastases is done through a CT scan. Blood tests are also used for identifying the disease. Bloodstream has specific proteins that serve as tumor markers. Blood tests identify these tumor markers. Human chorionic gonadotropin, Alpha-fetoprotein, and LDH-1 are among the commonest proteins used as tumor markers in detecting the disease through blood test. Blood tests may not be very efficient.
There are three treatment options available. These options are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Each method is performed by different specialists. Radiation oncologists perform radiation therapy, medical oncologists perform chemotherapy, while urologists perform surgery. Success of treatment depends on the stage of this disease at the time treatment is started.
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