Movember and Testicular Cancer
November 24, 2020
Another of the causes that Movember raises money for is testicular cancer. Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in young men in the UK, mostly affecting those aged between 15 and 49. Men who had undescended testes at birth, and those with a family history of testicular cancer are more at risk. Those who have previously had testicular cancer also have a heightened risk of it returning.
As stated in our prostate cancer post, Movember aim to halve the number of men dying from testicular cancer, and halve the number of men facing serious ongoing side effects from treatment by 2030.
Symptoms of Testicular Cancer
The testicles are responsible for the production of male hormones and sperm. Testicular cancer usually starts as a lump or abnormal growth in one of the testicles. Other symptoms include:
- Increase in the firmness of a testicle
- Difference in appearance between the testicles
- Dull ache or sharp pain in the testicles or scrotum
- A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
These symptoms may not be testicular cancer; there are many causes for lumps. But, if you do get one or more of these symptoms, it is always best to see a doctor straight away.
Treatment
Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable cancers according to the NHS, including if it has spread. The three main treatments for the cancer are chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. This depends on the type of testicular cancer, and the stage that it is at.
If the cancer is advanced, then an Orchidectomy may be the best course of treatment. An Orchidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one of the testicles. Removing the entire testicle rather than just the tumour increases the chances of a full recovery. There is also an option to have an artificial testicle to replace the one that was removed.
Testicular cancer and the removal of one testicle should not alter your fertility, but it affects different people in different ways. If this is the case, or if a patient is worried about it being a problem, then they can discuss sperm banking before the treatment starts.
Testicular Cancer Negligence
Unfortunately, there are some cases where Testicular cancer may have gone untreated or undiagnosed. Whilst it is a very treatable disease, sometimes the cancer may get worse or spread. This could be due to the negligence of a doctor.
If you have experienced a delay in the diagnosis or treatment of testicular cancer due to the fault of someone else, and it has made the cancer worse, or changed your prognosis, we may be able to help.
Here at The Medical Negligence Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with all types of cancer negligence cases. This includes testicular cancer negligence. contact us today by filling in our contact form, or by calling us on 01614138761 to speak to one of our friendly, knowledgeable advisors.