Signs and Symptoms
One of the first signs of testicular cancer is often a lump or swelling in the testes. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against routine screening for testicular cancer in asymptomatic adolescent and adults, which means that men should not perform routine testicular self-exams. This practice was encouraged in the past, but current scientific evidence suggests that screening for testicular cancer does not lead to decreased morbidity and mortality. However, the American Cancer Society suggests that some men should examine their testicles monthly, especially if they have a family history of cancer.
Symptoms may also include one or more of the following:
- a lump in one testis which may or may not be painful
- sharp pain or a dull ache in the lower abdomen or scrotum
- a feeling often described as "heaviness" in the scrotum
- breast enlargement (gynecomastia) from hormonal effects of β-hCG
- low back pain (lumbago) tumor spread to the lymph nodes along the back
It is not very common for testicular cancer to spread to other organs, apart from the lungs. However, if it has, the following symptoms may be present:
- shortness of breath (dyspnea), cough or coughing up blood (hemoptysis) from metastatic spread to the lungs
- a lump in the neck due to metastases to the lymph nodes
Read more about this topic: Testicular Cancer
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