Symptoms of testicular cancer are:

• Painless lump, swelling, ache, or heavy feeling in the testicle
• Ache or changes in male breast tissue
• Back pain, lung, abdomen, pelvis, brain symptoms if cancer has spread

The urologists at AUCNY may diagnose this cancer from non-cancerous conditions which may give similar symptoms using some of the following:

• Epididymitis – swelling of the epididymis treated with antibiotics
• Testicular torsion – twisting of the testicle treated surgically
• Inguinal hernia – a breach of the intestine through a defect in the abdominal muscle near the groin often treated surgically
• Hydrocele — a buildup of scrotal fluid often requiring drainage

 Risk factors include:

• Family history of testicular cancer, especially in white men, and ages 15 to 35
• Abnormal testicular development (due to chromosomal abnormality) or undescended testicle (cryptorchidism) even if surgically relocated

Diagnostic testing by AUCNY urologist may include:

• Detailed history and physical examination – requesting details on symptoms, personal and family medical history, social history including smoking habits, physical examination with special emphasis on the testicles and scrotum looking for a mass through which the light of a flashlight does not penetrate suggesting a solid non-fluid-filled mass or tumor.
• Ultrasound imaging – to create an image of the scrotal/testicular structures
• Blood tests – to look for certain tumor markers (AFP, LDH, HCG) which are naturally occurring substances that, when, elevated, are associated with cancer
• Chest x-ray, bone scan, CT, MRI, PET scan – imaging procedures to define the presence, extent, size, and location of tumors including possible spread past the initially involved organ
• Surgery – to remove the testicle and perform microscopic/pathologic studies and exploration of the draining lymph nodes if necessary to determine if cancer has spread, with or without lymph node exploration