The Hidden Cancer Symptom Men Shouldn't Ignore

Cancer is not always as it is portrayed in fiction. Sometimes, people can be asymptomatic for years before realizing they've got a malignant tumor inside. Perhaps you already know of someone (or have experienced yourself) who went for years without identifying cancer until the disease had reached an advanced stage. This is why health professionals talk about the importance of screening. Understanding the different types of cancers and their symptoms, while going to your healthcare provider at the right age to get the appropriate exams, can help you to catch disease early and improve your chances of treating it.

That being said, some signs can be evident to us without the help of screening as well. In the case of men, keeping an eye on your testes, two small organs located inside your scrotum, can help you catch testicular cancer early. Typically, your testicles, which produce sperm and testosterone, are about two inches long, but one can be bigger than the other.

Although it's not a very common type of cancer, the American Cancer Society estimates that 1 in 250 men could develop testicular cancer. This type of cancer can cause one or both of your testicles to look swollen and feel heavy. You might also notice or feel a painless lump in the area. However it materializes, a subtle, easy-to-miss change in the testicles is often one of the first symptoms of the disease. But there are also other health symptoms men shouldn't ignore that may point to this illness.

Men between the ages of 15 and 45 are the most at risk of developing testicular cancer. Having an undescended testicle, a family history of the disease, or infertility, and being a non-Hispanic white male are other risk factors. Apart from changes in the size and feel of your testicles and a feeling of heaviness in your scrotum, you may also notice an ache in your lower abdominal region or groin, testicles, or back. You may also experience enlarged breast tissue or a shrinking testicle, also known as testicular atrophy. 

Testicular cancer is on the list of cancers that can easily go undetected in men because people can remain asymptomatic until it reaches an advanced stage. It's worth noting that prostate cancer is also on the same list. Although rare, it is possible for prostate cancer to affect your testicles, too, so look out for any changes if you've been diagnosed with this. Not keeping an eye on the testicles is a health mistake men don't realize they're making, but it's also important to know what to do if you notice any appearance or sensation-related changes in this area.

If your symptoms last longer than two weeks, it's time to pay a visit to your healthcare provider. Your doctor will physically examine the area, ask you about your symptoms, and look at your lymph nodes. An ultrasound, CT scans, and biopsy may follow. Testicular cancer typically has four stages. At stages one and two, the cancerous cells are contained within the testes, and stages three and four are when the malignant cells have metastasized to the lymph nodes and possibly other areas of the body.

Treatment of testicular cancer will depend on the stage you are at and also your overall health, but it is considered a highly treatable type of cancer. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are some of the treatment options. 

Keeping an eye out for unusual changes, including ones that pertain to your testicles, is one way to stay ahead when it comes to men and cancer symptoms, per MD Anderson's Cancer Prevention Center medical director Dr. Therese Bevers. "Men shouldn't ignore their health," the expert confirmed. "It's vital to pay attention to changes in your body and report unusual symptoms to your doctor right away."