Most people know that “Movember” helps raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer, but people frequently forget to mention this charity also supports testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is a type of cancer you hear very little about unless a celebrity, like Lance Armstrong or Tom Green, is diagnosed with it. Approximately 8,890 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer this year. Fortunately, testicular cancer could be curable and has a five year, 95 percent survival rate. (Source: Cancer.net)
What is it? Testicular cancer is a type of cancer that develops in one or both testicles in young men. Unlike most cancers where older age is a risk factor, testicular cancer is most common in young men between the ages of 20 and 34, but can occur at any age in life. More than 90 percent of cancers of the testicle develop in germ cells.
Risk factors Having a risk factor, or multiple risk factors, does not mean you will get the disease. Likewise, having no risk factors doesn’t mean you won’t get the disease. Each type of cancer has different risk factors. The common risk factors for testicular cancer are:
- Undescended testicle(s)
- Family History
- HIV Infection
- Cancer of the other testicle
- Age
- Race and Ethnicity
Prevention Many men who are affected with testicular cancer have no known risk factors and some of the risk factors like undescended testicles, family history, and race are unavoidable. For these reasons, it is not possible to prevent testicular cancer.
Treatment options There are three main treatment options for testicular cancer
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
To learn more about the treatment options available for testicular cancer, please visit nccancercare.org. FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital offers treatment and support to patients and loved ones affected by cancer in the Pinehurst, Lumberton, Raeford, Sanford, Laurinburg, Rockingham, and Troy regions of North Carolina and beyond.
