The incidence rate for testicular cancer
has been on the rise for decades

TESTICULAR CANCER


What is Testicular Cancer?

Testicular Cancer is, as the name implies, cancer that originates in the testis. The testis are largely considered to be the most important element of the male reproductive system, as they contain the glands in which spermatoza (commonly known as sperm) and testosterone are created. The two main types of Testicular Cancer are Seminomas and Nonseminoas, both of which are covered in great detail below.

It is an extremely rare form of cancer, occuring in less than half a percent of males in a given year. Despite this, Testicular Cancer is currently the most common form of cancer found in men between the ages of 15 and 35. This fact has resulted in an estimated 195,000 men with a history of Testicular Cancer in the United States alone. It is also one of the more treatable cancers, accounting for only a tenth of a percent of total cancer deaths.

From this, we can see that the silver lining to a Testicular Cancer diagnosis is the relatively high success rate when treating patients. Reflecting this fact is the following chart, which illustrates the high percentage of Testicular Cancer patients that survive five years or more after their initial diagnosis.

Those that survive Those that do not survive


Seminomas

Seminomas are one of the two primary forms of Testicular Cancer. A Seminoma is a form of cancer that begins in the cells that produces sperm. Due to their place of origin, this form of Testicular Cancer typically is not extremely aggressive and as such is usually fairly treatable.

Seminomas develop and spread slowly relative to Nonseminomas. They have been known to respond well to radiation-based therapy. In short, the slow moving nature of this disease typically provides doctors and patients alike with ample time to develop and execute a proper medical plan to combat the tumor, something that explains the low mortality rates of the illness.

Nonseminomas

Nonseminomas are the other primary form of Testicular Cancer. Although they are less common than Seminomas, they still pose a larger threat to most patients due to their ability to develop and spread relatively rapidly throughout the body. Unlike Seminomas, they begin in the cells that form sperm or eggs.

Simply put, Nonseminomas are the more aggressive of the two main forms of Testicular Cancer, and as such wrestle treatment options away from doctors through their aggression when compared to Seminomas.



Advancements in Treatment

Testicular Cancer has been noted as being a very treatable and sometimes even curable form of cancer. Despite this, the disease remains the most common cancer diagnosed in males ages 15 - 35. Early diagnosis is the key to ensuring that patients are able to maintain access to a wide variety of treatment options. In fact, if the disease is discovered after spreading to distant parts of the body the 5-year survival rate has been known to drop a whopping 24 percent. The chart below depicts the relatively low mortality rate that the disease has when compared to the incidence rate, and how these figures have progressed over time.


Incidence rate per 100,000 people
Mortality rate per 100,000 people


What is being done?

A general rule of thumb to be followed with cancer is that early detection is a vital part of ensuring that an effective treatment program is possible. Testicular Cancer is no exception, and recent advancements in medical technologies have ensured that mortality rates remain low even as the rate of diagnoses increases. While many of the treatment options that currently make this possible are highly uncomfortable, scientists and doctors alike are hard at work to make said treatment options more comfortable and easier to endure while enabling the disease to be discovered sooner in the first place. What follows are the advancements in treatment that have and continue to address the problem of Testicular Cancers.

Promotion of self-examinations

The promotion of self-examination has been one of the most important factors in the early discovery of Testicular Cancer. To understand this, one must first recognize the symptoms of Testicular Cancer. These can include, but are not limited to, things such as the enlargement of the testicle, a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, a collection of fluid in the scrotum, and a persistent pain in the testicle or the scrotum.

As you can probably tell, most of these symptoms are relatively visible and can, in some cases, be identified without the assistence of a medical professional. Thus, the testicular self-examination was standardized. For the sake of assisting people who are not familiar with the test, here are the American Cancer Society's guidlines as to how it should be performed:

1. Hold your penis out of the way and check one testicle at a time.
2. Hold the testicle between your thumbs and fingers of both hands and roll it gently between your fingers.
3.Look and feel for any hard lumps or smooth rounded bumps or any change in the size, shape, or consistency of the testicles.

They also note that the best time to do this exam is during or after a bath or a shower. Because the stage at which the cancer is discovered is one of the most important factors in determining the effectiveness of treatment, the simple nature of this test has saved lives by enabling people to better discover the disease before it becomes life threatening. While the test is not 100 percent accurate, it can enable people to become aware of the problem where they otherwise would not.

Treatment by Intensive Chemotherapy

Unfortunately, many of the procedures that are currently feasable for treating Testicular Cancers have been known to produce uncomfortable side effects. Perhaps the most common of these treatments is chemotherapy, which is used to great effect in many to subdue tumors that have spread beyond the point of origin.

Scientists are hard at work to modify these treatments to produce fewer side effects. By mixing and matching various drug combinations, doctors can minimize the amount of adverse effects that the patient is exposed to, and in doing so are able to ensure that nobody is under or over treated.

Such experiments have been reported to reduce the side effects without compromising on the results produced by the treatment. It is hoped that further research and development in this respect will make these life-saving treatments more comfortable to endure.



How to Help

If discovered in its later stages or left untreated, Testicular Cancer can prove to be a major health problem. So far, we've covered the medical advancements intended to revolutionize its treatment and discovery in order to help save more lives. But that's not all it takes. In order to truly combat the threat of Testicular Cancer, we must increase public awareness of the disease. The following organizations all represent fantastic ways to help accomplish this goal while also funding and contributing to research involving highly efficient treatment procedures.

The Testicular Cancer Society

The Testicular Cancer Society has taken a varied and aggressive approach in their fight against Testicular Cancers. They attempt to raise awareness about the harms of the disease while also offering support to those who are already suffering from it.

From one on one support to information regarding the proper way to perform a self-check for Testicular Cancer, the Testicular Cancer Society has taken meaningful strides towards a future free from the confusion and feeling of hopelessness that is sometimes associated with something as serious as cancer. They also make it incredibly easy for others to get involved in their mission, and as such have created a page that details the steps that can be taken to support their operations.

Testicular Cancer is a disease that thrives when given time to develop, so ensuring that the general public is properly informed as to the signs of the illness is an essential part of ensuring that it is effectively dealt with. You can join the Testicular Cancer Society in this mission by clicking on the button below to donate.

Donate

Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation

The Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation is a nonprofit that strives to heighten the general public's awareness of the threat of Testicular Cancers. In order to make this happen, they recognize that the important first step is to tear down the stigma and unnecessary unembarrassment that is associated with a Testicular Cancer diagnosis. Their goal is to create a society that is more welcoming of open and honest conversations regarding Testicular Cancer that are free from the fear of judgement.

One of the most impactful ways in which they compel people to take action is through sharing images of Testicular Cancer survivors and victims. By providing a sense of community, the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation is effective in combating the lonliness and isolation that sometimes surrounds cancer diagnoses. You can join them in their fight by clicking here to donate.

Donate

Fight At No Cost

The online age has developed easy and free communication between millions of people on the planet. You can aid the fight against Testicular Cancer without having to open your wallet at all!

Getting others informed is one of the single best contributors to detection and survivability. This is the power of word of mouth, the power of sharing our thoughts and ideas to make a change. You can click on the buttons below to get started. Spread the word!

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