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Homework Help: Health: Diseases & Disorders: Testicular Cancer
by Alex Chuang
Introduction
Testicular Cancer is a rare type of cancer that occurs in 1% of male
tumors, but over 5,000 cases are being discovered every year. There is
no known cause of Testicular Cancer. The cancer is most likely to
occur between the ages of 20-40 years. Some forms of Testicular Cancer
can occur before or after the age range. For strange reasons, this
type of cancer is more common in white men that in an African American.
Testicles are very important to men. It is responsible to make sperm
and hormone known as testosterone. Without it, men will not be men.
It is also important for a man to have a working testicle.
Possible Prevention
Testicular Cancer is noticeable when one testicle is bigger than the
other, but the are some less obvious symptoms. The lump in the
testicle can be as small as a pea or big as an egg. A possible
prevention is self-examination. Doing self-examination after a warm
shower is a good time because the heat relaxes the scrotum, making the
exam easier to spot abnormal things. Place index and middle fingers
under the testicle and the thumb on top. Roll the testicle gently to
feel for any lumps. If a lump is present, go see a doctor. Other
factors can cause the lump, but it is better to see a doctor.
Treatment
There are several ways to figure out if an individual have Testicular
Cancer. The common way is to find a hard lump in the testicle. Since
there is a high survival rate of detecting cancer, it is important for
men to examine both testicles to detect tumors early. Another symptom,
is tenderness in the breast. A substance from the tumor also causes
tenderness in breast. The best way is to visit the doctor and ask him
to examine testicles. The doctor will use ultrasound to help determine
if the testicle is good or bad. If a cancerous testicle is found, it
may need to be surgically removed. First, a small incision is made, to
determine the type of Testicular Cancer. Depending on the type of
cancer, other therapies might be recommend. Usually the testicle is
removed, but depending on the severity, lymph nodes may also be
removed.
Results or Side Effects
Every kind of cancer treatment causes some kind of unpleasant side
effects. The removal of one testicle does not change much, in terms of
sexual function. One testicle can produce enough sperm and hormones
for reproduction. The removal of lymph nodes does not affect erections
or orgasms, but it will disrupt nerve pathways that controls the
ejaculation itself, therefore an individual may not have children.
Some patients in chemotherapy can increase risk of infection, nausea,
and hair loss. Certain drugs temporary stop fertility, but many men
recover after two to three years.
Conclusion
Most cases of Testicular Cancer could have been avoided if more men
self-examine themselves. Most men are very paranoid about going to the
doctor and having their genitals checked. Some people do not feel
comfortable touching that part of the body. They should not be
shameful. It is part of their body. A person needs to get to know his
own body. It does not take very long to perform the self-examination
test. Doing the self-examination is not shameful; it is a way to
prevent Testicular Cancer.
Homework Help: Health: Diseases & Disorders
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