Review: Introduction to Testicular Cancer

Here is what we have learned from Introduction to Testicular Cancer:

• Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in males between the ages of 15 and 35.
• Testicular cancer is the second most common malignancy in men ages 35 to 39.
• Testicular cancer is often curable.
• Cancer cells of testicular cancer grow rapidly, but are usually very susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• Lower levels of exercise are believed to be linked to increased risk of testicular cancer.
• Other possible risk factors include heredity, genetic abnormalities, congenial defects in the reproductive tract, testicular injury, and atrophy of the testes.
• Ninety-five percent of testicular cancers arise from sperm-forming, or germ, cells and are called germinal tumors; the remaining 5 percent are nongerminal tumors.
• Germ cells become malignant at a very early stage in their development, and they may be anaplastic, classic (or typical), or spermatocytic, depending on their origin.
• Cells more mature and specialized than the germ cells give rise to nonseminomas.
• Testicular cancers tend to spread through the spermatic cord and associated blood and lymph vessels into local lymph glands called the retroperitoneal lymph nodes.
• Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include testicular pain, acute epididymitis, night sweats and fever, weight loss, abdominal pain.