7 Signs of Testicular Cancer (and How to Prevent It)

Testicular cancer is a highly curable cancer that develops in the testicles. Located inside the

scrotum, the testicles are a loose bag of skin underneath the penis and are part of the male reproductive system. Typically, this cancer develops in one or both testicles (the testes) in young men, but it can occur in older men as well and in rare instance, in younger boys. The odds for getting testicular cancer are estimated to be about 1 in 200, with about 80,000 cases being diagnosed each year in the United States alone. Although testicular cancer is considered to be rare, it is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 35.

Knowing the signs of testicular cancer will help with early detection of the disease. The good news is that testicular cancer is notable for having among the highest cure rates among all cancers. It has an average five year survival rate as high as 99%, depending on how early the cancer is detected.

The Two Kinds of Testicular Cancer

There are two main types of testicular cancer: seminomas and nonseminomas. These cancers grow from the germ cells that make sperm.

Seminoma

Seminoma is a slow-growing form of testicular cancer which is most often found in men in their 30s and 40s. The cancer is usually limited to just in the testes, but it can spread to the lymph nodes.

Nonseminoma

This more common type of testicular cancer tends to grow more quickly than seminomas. Nonseminoma tumors are often made up of more than one type of cell, and are identified according to these different cell types:

• Choriocarcinoma (rare)
• Embryonal carcinoma
• Teratoma
• Yolk sac tumor

A stromal tumor is a rare type of testicular tumor. They are usually not cancerous. The two main types of stromal tumors are Leydig cell tumors and Sertoli cell tumors. Stromal tumors usually occur during childhood.

7 Signs of Testicular Cancer

Common signs of testicular cancer include:

• A swelling and/or lump in one or both of the testes. There may or may not be pain in the testes or scrotum
• A heavy feeling in the scrotum
• A dull pain or feeling of pressure in the lower belly or groin

Sometimes these symptoms can be caused by other problems, such as a hydrocele or epididymitis.

Testicular cancer that has spread (metastasized) beyond the testicles and regional lymph nodes to other organs may cause other symptoms depending on the area of the body affected. Symptoms of late-stage testicular cancer may include:

The exact cause of testicular cancer is unknown. Anything that increases your chance of getting testicular cancer is a risk factor. Some of the top risk factors for testicular cancer include:

1. Exposure to certain chemical toxins – Toxins are the top root cause of cancer
2. Age – Most cases occur between the ages of 15 and 40, and testicular cancer is the type of cancer found most often in men ages 20 to 34
3. Race – Caucasian men are 5 to 10 times more likely to develop testicular cancer than men of other races
4. Family or personal history of testicular cancer – especially having an identical twin with testicular cancer
5. Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism) in infants and young boys – Men with testicles that did not move down into the scrotum before birth are at increased risk. Men who had surgery to correct this condition are still at high risk of testicular cancer
6. Abnormal testicular development
7. Klinefelter’s syndrome – A sex chromosome disorder characterized by low levels of male hormones, sterility, breast enlargement, and small testes
8. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or AIDS
9. Previous treatment for testicular cancer
10. Viral infections of the testicles, such as occurs with mumps
11. Injury to the scrotum
12. Activity which may regularly put pressure on or irritate the scrotum (think cyclist Lance Armstrong)

It’s important to note that there is no known link between vasectomy and testicular cancer.

Testicular Cancer Prevention

Like all cancers, there are several steps one can take to help prevent testicular cancer. Such steps include:

• Addressing and eliminating the toxins, which are the root cause of most cancers, from your body and environment
• Building up your vital immune system − the body’s natural first line of defense against cancer and other illness
• Eating a very healthy, cancer-fighting, and immune boosting diet and avoiding unhealthy foods.
• Including a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise or physical activity, stress management, and plenty of regular direct and indirect sunshine
• Making sure that you get daily optimum nutrition through both diet and, as needed, supplementation. Note: Contrary to mainstream medical advice, optimum daily nutrition cannot be obtained from diet alone. As a matter of fact, it is almost impossible to even get minimal RDA amounts of the handful of vitamins and major minerals on the RDA list on a daily basis in a 2,000 to 2,500 calorie per day diet
• Paying special attention to cleansing, restoring, and protecting your vital liver − the body’s natural toxin removal organ. The great cancer pioneer Max Gerson observed that he never found a single cancer patient who did not also have an impaired liver
• Generally making your body as inhospitable to cancer as possible

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