7 Surprising Symptoms of Testicular Cancer

Approximately 8,850 American men will develop testicular cancer this year. Males of any age can develop testicular cancer, but it is most common among young men (the average age of diagnosis is 33). If it is caught in the earlier stages, it is highly treatable. Let’s take a look at 7 potential signs of testicular cancer:

1. Gynecomastia is a condition whereby males develop excess breast tissue and/or swelling of the breasts. It can be harmless, or can be linked with such conditions as Klinefelter’s syndrome, obesity or in some cases a sign of testicular cancer.
2. Lower back pain – In some cases, later stage testicular cancer may spread to the lymph glands behind the stomach causing a dull lower backache.
3. Enlargement or swelling of a testicle – If you feel any changes in your testes, it is important to get them checked out by a doctor. If your testicles feel swollen, hard or if one of them feels much bigger than usual, visit your doctor right away.
4. A lump on either testicle – A lump in the testicles may be a harmless cyst or benign growth, but it can also be an early symptom of testicular cancer.
5. Pain or discomfort of the lower stomach – Testicular cancer sometimes causes no pain, but can cause aching in the lower stomach because of the tumor. This can also be a result of cancer spreading to the liver or surrounding areas. Don’t panic – many more harmless conditions can cause lower stomach aching as well such as a urinary tract infection.
6. A ‘heavy feeling’ or pressure in the scrotum – Some men with testicular cancer may feel a heaviness or pressure in their groin area. If you’ve been feeling strange sensations such as scrotal heaviness, visit your doctor to be evaluated.
7. A blood clot in the leg – Sometimes a deep vein thrombosis of the leg in young adult males can be the first sign of testicular cancer. Blood clots can also be idiopathic or caused by a less serious condition.

Check Yourself

The best way to catch cancer in its infancy before it causes problems is to perform regular self-examinations. Check out the American Cancer Society’s guidelines for a self-exam so you can find any abnormalities if they arise.

Same Symptoms – Different Conditions

Sometimes other health conditions such as an inguinal hernia, testicle torsion or kidney stones could cause symptoms similar to those listed above. Either way, it is always important to get any such changes to your physical health checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible, to catch cancer or another condition before it progresses.

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