Signs And Symptoms Of Testicular Cancer
Every man knows about testicular cancer. Every single one! But no one likes it. Testicular cancer treatment begins with surgery to remove the testicle. Chemo and radiation can follow surgery to increase the chances of success. But if the cancer has already spread? Sometimes chemo for testicular cancer is given before surgery. Testicular cancer often means pain meds and a selection of others. In all cases, though, men need a lot of care for testicular cancer. They need support!
Lump On The Testicle Or Swelling
Men, you need to know your body. You need to check your testicles. Why? One of the most common signs of testicular cancer is a painless lump in the area. But since it's painless, it's very hard to spot early. A tumor can start out as small as a pea. Only the men who are very, very familiar with their bodies are going to spot lumps early. Knowing what's normal will send up a red flag even when something small changes. So check things out regularly! One of the best times for this is in the shower.
Although testicular cancer does cause painless lumps, it's also very, very common to see swelling and pain! Lumps can be very painful too, and the testicle itself may even swell. But no matter what, men who know their bodies are the ones who are better off at spotting problems early.
Changes In The Testicles
Men with testicular cancer will experience changes in their testicles. The way it feels is a big, big one! One testicle may get harder than the other when it wasn't before. One might get larger than the other! Although many, many men have one testicle that's a bit bigger than the other, changes are still a point of concern. Men who deal with any changes in the way their testicles feel or look need to talk to a doctor. Yes, even for the smallest change! In fact, the earlier men talk to a doctor about changes, the better. So men, keep the situation in your control as much as possible. Make an appointment!
Abdominal Or Groin Pain
Like any other type of cancer, testicular cancer can spread! One of the places this happens is the lymph glands behind the stomach. This is why men with advancing testicular cancer will have pain in their abdomen. It may also cause other changes here, like swelling.
But even before testicular cancer causes abdominal pain, men will feel groin pain! The reason for this is obvious, no one can miss it. No one at all! The testicles are part of a man's groin, so if there's cancer in this area, this is the most common place for pain. In most cases, men with testicular cancer who deal with abdominal or ground pain describe it as dull and throbbing. It's not normally sharp!
Buildup Of Fluid
Fluid can suddenly start building up in scrotum because of testicular cancer. This can be because of a fluid-filled cyst in the area beginning to grow. It's also important, so important, for men to know a tumor can also cause severe irritation in their testicles. When this irritation happens, it can make tissue fluid build in the area as well. Bleeding also contributes to fluid in the scrotum. The buildup in this area means the testicle affected will look swollen. This plays a role in the pain men experience in the area too. Many, many men who have fluid building in their scrotum say it feels heavy, so watch for this too!
Blood Clots And DVT
This will surprise many, many men, but yes, blood clots are a big sign of testicular cancer. In fact, many men with this cancer deal with deep vein thrombosis (DVT)! This means at least one blood clot has formed in a deep vein in the body. Most often, this is in the legs, which is why it can occur with testicular cancer. The tumors can reduce blood flow to these veins thanks to them spreading to the lymph nodes. Along with the blood clots themselves, men with testicular cancer will feel pain in their legs, shortness of breath, and swelling if they're dealing with deep vein thrombosis as well.