Your cancer can be stage 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. The lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, like stage 4, means a more serious cancer that has spread beyond the testicles. Be sure to ask the doctor about the cancer stage and what it means for you.
There are many ways to treat testicular cancer. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and high dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant are the main types of treatment. Surgery to take out the testicle is often the first treatment for testicular cancer. Nearby lymph nodes may also be taken out to see if there are cancer cells in them. There are many ways to do this surgery. Talk to your doctor about what will be done and what you can expect. Any type of surgery can have risks and side effects. Be sure to ask the doctor what you can expect.
If you have problems, let your doctors know. Doctors who treat testicular cancer should be able to help you with any problems that come up. Chemo is the short word for chemotherapy — the use of drugs to fight cancer.
The drugs are given into a vein. These drugs go into your blood and spread through your body. They kill cells that are fast growing, cancer cells and good cells, like blood cells and hair.
Chemo is given in cycles or rounds. Each round of treatment is followed by a break. Chemo cycles last about 3 to 4 weeks. Using 2 or more chemo drugs together often works better than using one drug alone. Treatment lasts for many months.
Chemo can make you feel very tired, sick to your stomach, and cause your hair to fall out. But these problems go away after treatment ends. There are ways to treat most chemo side effects. If you have side effects, be sure to talk to your cancer care team so they can help. Radiation uses high-energy rays like x-rays to kill cancer cells. In testicular cancer, radiation is mainly used to kill cancer cells that have spread to lymph nodes. It can also be used to treat cancer that has spread to the brain or spinal cord.
For testicular cancer, a machine aims a beam of radiation at the testicle. This is called external beam radiation. A cover is put over the healthy testicle to help keep the radiation from harming it. If your doctor suggests radiation treatment, talk about what side effects might happen. However, it is not possible to diagnose the cause of a lump at home. A person should always seek medical advice.
In this article, we look at the possible causes of a testicle lump, self-examination, and when to see a doctor. We also cover diagnosis and treatment. Lumps and swellings inside the testicles, or on the skin around them, can have a range of causes, including:.
A cyst is a fluid-filled sac that can feel like a small, hard lump when touched. Cysts can develop almost anywhere on the body and are usually harmless. A varicocele is a lumpy area caused by swollen veins in the testicles. It is not clear what causes a varicocele.
This often happens after an infection or injury to this area of the body. Hydroceles are usually painless. The swelling can affect one or both testicles. Testicular torsion is a serious medical condition that needs immediate treatment. This can happen when the cord connected to the testicles twists and cuts off the blood supply.
People with testicular torsion usually experience severe pain, which may be followed by vomiting and testicular swelling. Epididymitis is a condition that can cause the epididymis to become painful and swollen. The epididymis is a tube that sits behind each testicle and carries the sperm. The swelling can feel like a lump. People with epididymitis may also experience pain, tenderness, and warmth in the skin around the testicles. Epididymitis is associated with chlamydia , a sexually transmitted disease.
A lump or swelling can be one of the first symptoms of testicular cancer. Most tumors do not cause any pain. The lump will usually form on the front or side of a testicle. It will often feel hard, and the entire testicle may feel firmer than usual. A lump can develop inside the testicle, or just under the skin. One testicle may become larger or swollen.
According to the American Cancer Society, testicular cancer is not common. Only around 1 in men will get testicular cancer during their lifetime, and the risk of dying from it is about 1 in 5, Understanding the body and being aware of any changes can be an essential part of managing health.
Checking the testicles for any lumps or swelling and seeking medical advice if needed can make sure any issues are treated as quickly as possible. The testes form in the abdominal area during fetal development and usually descend into the scrotum before birth. Men who have a testicle that never descended are at greater risk of testicular cancer than are men whose testicles descended normally.
The risk remains elevated even if the testicle has been surgically relocated to the scrotum. Still, the majority of men who develop testicular cancer don't have a history of undescended testicles. Some doctors recommend regular testicle self-examinations to identify testicular cancer at its earliest stage. But not all doctors agree. Discuss testicular self-examination with your doctor if you're unsure about whether it's right for you.
Testicular cancer care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Male reproductive system Open pop-up dialog box Close. Male reproductive system The male reproductive system makes, stores and moves sperm. Testicular lumps Open pop-up dialog box Close. Testicular lumps Pain, swelling or lumps in your testicle or groin area may be a sign or symptom of testicular cancer or other medical conditions requiring treatment.
Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name. Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth coping with cancer guide will be in your inbox shortly. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Niederhuber JE, et al. Testicular cancer. In: Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed Nov. Fort Washington, Pa.
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