Why young men must be aware of testicular cancer

Although rare and curable young men must be aware of testicular cancer which can severely impact their reproductive health say expertsTesticular cancer is not only rare worldwide but also in India The country has one of the lowest incidences of testicular cancer with less than 1 man per 100 000 population affected by this condition However it is the most common cancer in young men aged 15 to 35 years and can significantly affect their fertility levelsTesticular cancer has a direct impact on the organs that produce sperm which may interfere with the ability to reproduce Dr Pallavi Prasad Fertility Consultant Nova IVF Fertility Basaveshwara Nagar Bengaluru told IANSSurgery is frequently used as the primary therapy for testicular cancer which involves removing the cancerous testicle While this surgery tries to eliminate malignant cells it may influence sperm production Even if the remaining testicle is healthy sperm production might be temporarily or permanently impaired she addedIn addition chemotherapy and radiation therapy used to target cancer cells throughout the body can also cause collateral harm to sperm cells reducing sperm production and quality The doctor suggested fertility preservation methods like sperm banking to save sperm samples before cancer treatmentMen can maintain the prospect of biological parenting by storing sperm before treatment even if cancer therapy influences fertility However it is important to note that fertility preservation methods may not be available to all men and the decision to explore such treatments might be difficult Treatment urgency financial factors and personal preferences may all impact peoples fertility preservation decisions Dr Prasad saidAlthough precise reasons behind testicular cancer are not yet understood risk factors include early exposure to oestrogens via hormone therapy and congenital conditions like small testes or undescended testes cryptorchidism among othersDr Shalabh Agrawal Consultant Urology CK Birla Hospital Gurugram told IANS that the most common symptom of testicular cancer is a painless enlargement in one of the testiclesThis is in contrast to a sudden painful enlargement which is more likely to be due to an infection rather than cancer If a patient is being treated for a longstanding testicular infection but the enlargement persists they should be screened for the possibility of testicular cancer he addedYet ldquotesticular cancer is considered a highly treatable form of cancer with a 10year survival rate exceeding 90 per centrdquo Dr Agrwal said stressing the need for early detection via selfexaminationThe selfexamination should be performed daily after showering by gently palpating both testicles to check for any abnormalities in size position or the presence of lumps or swelling If any such changes are detected it is essential to promptly report them to a healthcare provider for further evaluation and appropriate management he addedAlso Read Pune doctors remove turmeric pieces that formed layers in elderly manrsquos lungs