Testicular Cancer

TESTICULAR CANCER

Dr. Herman and Dr. Kester, top South Florida urologists serving the Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Palm Beach areas, specialize in the Diagnosis and Treatment of TESTICULAR CANCER.

Our In-Office Diagnostic Tools include • ULTRASOUND • BIOPSY • BLOOD TESTS.
In-Office Treatment may include • SURGERY • CHEMOTHERAPY.

Call us immediately to schedule an appointment if you suspect you might have TESTICULAR CANCER.

Testicular cancer occurs in the testicles (testes), which are located inside the scrotum, a loose bag of skin underneath the penis. The testicles produce male sex hormones and sperm necessary for reproduction.

Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare. But testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 34. The cause of testicular cancer is unknown.

Testicular cancer is highly treatable, even when cancer has spread beyond the testicle. Depending on the type and stage of testicular cancer, you may receive one of several treatments, or a combination. Regular testicular self-examinations can help identify growths early, when the chance for successful treatment of testicular cancer is highest.

SYMPTOMS OF TESTICULAR CANCER

Testicular cancer can result in a number of signs and symptoms. These may include:

• A lump or enlargement in either testicle
• A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• A dull ache in the abdomen or groin
• A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
• Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum
• Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts
• Unexplained fatigue or a general feeling of not being well

DIAGNOSIS OF TESTICULAR CANCER

Most men discover testicular cancer themselves, either unintentionally or while doing a testicular self-examination to check for lumps. In other cases, your urologist may detect a lump during a routine physical exam.

To determine whether a lump is testicular cancer, the urologist may recommend:

• Ultrasound. An ultrasound test can help determine the nature of any testicular lumps, such as if the lumps are solid or fluid filled. Ultrasound also tells the doctor whether lumps are inside or outside of the testicle. The doctor uses this information to determine whether a lump is likely to be testicular cancer.
• Blood tests. Your doctor may order tests to determine the levels of tumor markers in your blood. Tumor markers are substances that occur normally in your blood, but the levels of these substances may be elevated in certain situations, including testicular cancer. A high level of a tumor marker in your blood doesn’t mean you have cancer, but it may suggestive.
• Surgery to remove a testicle (radical inguinal orchiectomy). If your urologist determines the lump on your testicle may be cancerous, he may recommend surgery to remove the testicle. Your testicle will be analyzed in a laboratory to determine if the lump is cancerous and, if so, what type of cancer.

In general, a biopsy or removal of the lump alone isn’t used when testicular cancer is suspected.

TREATMENT OF TESTICULAR CANCER

• Surgery to remove your testicle (radical inguinal orchiectomy) is the primary treatment for nearly all stages and types of testicular cancer.
• Radiation therapy may be a treatment option if you have the seminoma type of testicular cancer. Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy treatment uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs travel throughout your body to kill cancer cells that may have migrated from the original tumor. Your doctor might recommend chemotherapy after surgery.

Call us immediately to schedule an appointment with Dr. Herman or Dr. Kester for the relief you deserve.