Sperm are a vital part of reproduction, and your testicles (or testes) are where they, as well as sex hormones like testosterone, are made. Sperm take about 75 days to mature and are then able to inseminate an egg and begin a pregnancy. Sperm move through the epididymis and vas deferens before reaching the penis and leaving the body during ejaculation.
Although testicular cancer starts in the testes, it can spread to other parts of the body if not treated. One way to find this disease early is through self-examination. Catching it yourself can mean the difference between a swift diagnosis and a lingering condition with consequences affecting your overall health.
Let’s find out how important self-exams are and how Drs. Craig Herman and Steven Kester and the medical team at Urology Center of Florida can help residents of Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and South Florida with them and with testicular cancer.
This illness develops from abnormal germ cells (cells that eventually become sperm) that form in one or both testes, and the cancer can be one of 3 types:
While testicular cancer is fairly rare, affecting 1 in 250 people with testes, it is the most common cancer in men ages 15-35.
The exact cause of testicular cancer isn’t well understood, but we know it starts with alterations of the DNA in your testicular cells. Other factors that raise your risk of developing this cancer include a family history, cryptorchidism (having an undescended testicle), being a young adult (between 15 and 45), and being white.
The most common sign of this cancer is a lump or swelling in one or both testicles. The cancer can also come with a feeling of heaviness in your scrotum, pain or discomfort, breast tissue enlargement or tenderness, back pain, or a dull ache in your lower belly or groin.
Familiarity with your body is key to noticing changes when they happen, and the lumps or swelling that often come with testicular cancer are differences that can be felt. General recommendations suggest starting to check for lumps as early as 15, at least once monthly. Your physician should check for changes at least once annually.
You’re looking for lumps or abnormalities in your testicles or elsewhere in the groin area, including your scrotum, located between your penis and anus. To perform the exam, lift your penis and visually inspect the area. Gripping the top of your scrotum, locate one testicle and examine the spermatic cord and epididymis. Do the same with the other testicle.
Catching lumps early increases the chances of eliminating any tumors and achieving a full recovery. It only takes a few minutes to check them and find something before things get bad, which makes a world of difference in your health.
If you locate abnormalities or have any questions or concerns, call or message us to make an appointment with Dr. Herman or Dr. Kester and the Urology Center of Florida in Pompano Beach, Florida, today.
