Testicular Cancer - Possible Ways It Can Be Treated!

Cancer that starts in the testicles is called testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is more commonly seen in men who are from 25 to 40 years of age. It is generally of two major types. 

1. Seminomatous: These are less aggressive and respond very well to chemotherapy and radiation therapy 
2. Non-seminomatous: These grow and spread rapidly, and often require surgery and chemotherapy

While the exact causes for testicular cancer are not clear, the following are considered to be the possible risk factors: 

1. Family history 
2. Undescended testicles 
3. Prior history of testicular cancer 
4. Genetic abnormalities of some types 

Symptoms:

While testicular cancer is often diagnosed late, the patient can have early symptoms, which are often ignored. 

1. Painful swelling in one (or both) testicle(s) 
2. Pain in the lower abdomen and groin area

Often, this type of cancer originates in the testicles and spreads to the lymph nodes inside the abdomen. It can also reach distant organs like lungs, liver, and lymph nodes in chest, neck. If attention to paid to early symptoms such as testicular swelling with or without pain, testicular cancer can be diagnosed early. However, even if diagnosed in the late stages, treatment is quite effective and outcome is good.

Tumor Markers in Testicular Cancers

Tumor markers are very important for diagnosis of testicular cancers. Alpha feto protein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) are very important markers that are testing in blood. They are very useful in diagnosis, staging and follow up of testicular cancer. 

Stages of Testicular Cancer


There are three stages of testicular cancer – I to III, and treatment and prognosis would depend on the stage at which it is diagnosed. 

Treatment:

Various modalities are used depending on the stage and extent of spread. 

1. Surgery: Removal of the testicle is usually the first step in testicular cancer treatment. Removal of testicle for cancer is done by a procedure called “high orchidectomy” or radical orchidectomy and not through the scrotum. This may need to be followed up by chemotherapy or radiation in most cases. 
2. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs are used to kill the existing cancer cells and arrest the further growth of testicular cancer. Chemotherapy can be given in early cancers to prevent recurrence of cancer and for advanced cancer to cure the advanced cancer. Chemotherapy is very effective in testicular cancer and cures majority of cases in advanced stages too. 
3. Radiation: External radiation can be used to target nodes in the abdomen. Radiation is very effective in seminomatous cancers. As is true of all cancers, surveillance and follow-up is very essential. History, examination and testing (blood tests for tumor markers) and scanning (CT scan of abdomen, thorax) are used for follow up.

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