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Testicular Cancer FAQs
Testicular Cancer Questions & Answers
Testicular cancer is a type of male genitourinary cancer that starts in the testicles and makes up approximately 1% of all cancers in men. Below are answers to several frequently asked questions about testicular cancer.
Surgery is nearly always the first treatment option for all testicular cancers, including cancer that has spread to other areas of the body. In some cases, your Mercy doctor may recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy to be used after your surgery, depending on what stage your cancer is in.
Testicular cancer or treatment can sometimes make men infertile. However, testicular cancer most often occurs in just one testicle. If one testicle is preserved, fertility may return once the cancer has been sufficiently treated. Testicular cancer may also lower sperm counts in men, which may also affect fertility.
While the known cause of testicular cancer still remains unknown, certain risk factors may make some people more susceptible. For example, if you have a family history of testicular cancer, have an undescended testicle, have had testicular cancer before or have HIV/AIDS, you may be at greater risk.
According to the American Cancer Society, testicular cancer is diagnosed in younger men more frequently than in other cancers. The average age of a testicular cancer patient is about 33 years old. A small percentage of all testicular cancer diagnoses occur in children, teens and men over the age of 55.
Yes. Testicular cancer can spread to other parts of the body, if untreated. Like most other cancers, testicular cancer has the best chance of being cured when it’s caught early. If it’s allowed to spread undetected, it can potentially become more life-threatening to patients.
