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Testicular Cancer
What Are The Symptoms of Testicular Cancer?
The earliest symptoms of testicular cancer are:
- Pain, swelling, or hardness in the testicle, or some combination of these symptoms
- A small, painless lump on the testicle
- A “heaviness” in the scrotum
- An ache in the lower abdomen or groin
- An accumulation of blood or fluid in the scrotum
- Any change in the way a testicle feels.
In rare cases, a man will feel tenderness in his breast area. When this happens, it is usually caused by one variety of testicular cancer, in which high levels of a particular hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, are secreted by the growth in the testicle.
None of these symptoms are positive signs of cancer. But if any of these symptoms last longer than two weeks, a doctor should be consulted.
All cancers should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, but it is especially important in testicular cancer. The sooner cancer is found and treated, the better the chances of complete recovery.
How To Information: Testicular Self-Examination (TSE) A simple procedure called testicular self-examination (TSE), undertaken just once a month, can improve the chance of finding a testicular TSE should be performed after a warm bath or shower, because heat relaxes the scrotum and makes it easier to find anything unusual. The National Cancer Institute recommends following these simple steps every month:
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Nice To Know: Regularly performed testicular self-examination is important for a man’s health, and shouldn’t be a source of embarrassment or distress. Only a doctor can make a positive diagnosis, and a man’s physician should check the testicles during a routine physical exam. This is also a good time to ask the doctor how to perform a proper testicular self-examination. |