About 1,500 new cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed every year in Spain.
Every year, about 1,500 new cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed in Spain, which, according to the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), is also most common in men aged 15 to 35 years, so experts recommend self-treatment. -examination for early detection and thus prevention of complications related to fertility and general health.
“Self-examination is essential to detect testicular cancer in its early stages. Although this type of cancer usually responds well to chemotherapy, even in advanced stages, early diagnosis avoids more aggressive treatment and helps preserve the patient’s fertility,” explained Dr. Carlos Nunez Mora, head of the urological surgery service at the MD Anderson Cancer Center Madrid Hospital.
Symptoms of this type of cancer are “usually subtle” and “can sometimes go undetected,” especially in the early stages, with a painless lump in the testicle detectable by touch being the most common warning sign, according to the hospital. group. .
“Although most testicular growths are benign, if you have any symptoms, it is advisable to consult a urologist. Besides the knot, other warning signs include a feeling of heaviness, pain, or discomfort in the scrotum, lower back, or abdomen. pain or bruising or inflammation,” Mora added.
The initial treatment for this pathology consists of removing the affected testicle and subsequent treatment, which depends on the type of tumor cells. “For seminomas, one drug is usually used, which helps reduce the impact on fertility,” the specialist added.
On the other hand, seminomatous tumors usually require a “more intensive” approach with chemotherapy, so younger patients are advised to bank sperm before starting treatment to preserve the possibility of having children in the future, although this type of patient “already experiences changes in sperm quality before treatment” although The relationship between testicular cancer and infertility is “complex” and can manifest itself in different ways.
The doctor then identified the first risk group as men with a first-degree family history of the disease, such as fathers or brothers.
The second group consists of men who have or have had a history of cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both testicles do not descend naturally into the scrotum during childhood, remaining in the abdomen or groin.
“This condition, especially if not corrected surgically in childhood, increases the risk of developing testicular cancer in adulthood due to factors associated with high abdominal temperature, which can interfere with normal cellular development of the testicle,” Mora said.