Testicular cancer,
What's it all about?
Testicular cancer is a germ cell cancer that affects the testicles, which are part of the male reproductive system.
It can present itself as a lump or swelling in the testicle,
but can also cause pain or discomfort.
The exact cause of testicular cancer is unknown, but risk factors have been identified, such as a family history of the disease, an undescended testicle, and previous testicular cancer.
Treatment options include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, with the prognosis being generally good if caught early.
If cancer has spread into the body the prognosis is still very good due to developments of cisplatin-based chemotherapy discovered by Professor Lawrence Einhorn from Indiana, USA in the 70's
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what is GERM CELL CANCER?
Germ cell tumours develop in germ cells. These are the cells in the body that develop into sperm and eggs. Germ cell tumours most often develop in the ovary or testicle because this is where most germ cells are.
Almost all testicular germ cell cancers start in the testicles
But germ cells can sometimes be left behind in other parts of the body from when you developed in the womb.
So these tumours can develop anywhere in your body where there are germ cells.
Germ cell tumours that grow outside the ovary or testicle are very rare.
Doctors call them extragonadal germ cell tumours (EGGCT).
The main treatments are surgery and chemotherapy. Your treatment depends on your type of germ cell tumour and whereabouts it is in your body.
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There are a few types of germ-cell testicular cancers and almost 95 per cent of men survive even after many months of chemotheray
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