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Risks of Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is an abnormal growth in a manís testicles. Inside the scrotal sac resides to testis. These are egg like organs that are responsible for hormonal regulation and production of sperm. When an abnormal growth appears in the testis, usually one, it is called testicular cancer.

There are several different types of testicular cancer that can affect men. The difference in types is related to the type of cell that has become cancerous. The different cells have different survival rates and treatment protocols.

However, there are certain risks of testicular cancer that arenít related to either cell type or treatment. The risk factors that are now known to be associated with developing testicular cancer can be attributed to physiology, history, disease processes, age, race and size.

One of the main risk factors for testicular cancer is a condition called cryptorchidism, or undescended testicles. In this condition men are born with a testicle or two that doesnít come down into the scrotal sac. They remain deep within the abdomen or get stuck in the groin area. Most of the time the testicle will descend by the time the child is 1 but if it remains undescended the physician may recommend an orchiopexy to bring the testicle down into the scrotal sac.

If the testicle remains undescended the heat of the body kills the sperm. It also raises the risk of developing testicular cancer. Interestingly up to 25% of the cancers happen in the testicle that is descended which leads researchers to believe that it isnít the testicle in the body that causes the cancer but rather there is something else that leads to both the undescended testicle and the development of testicular cancer.

If a man has a family history of testicular cancer he is also at a higher risk than the general public. There is also a greater risk for his sons or brothers. There has also been some evidence to suggest than men who are infected with HIV are at an increased risk. There have been no other infections that are associated with the development of this condition.

Other risks of testicular cancer include cancer of the other testicle and cancer in situ. If a man has cancer in one testicle he has a 3 ñ 4% greater chance of getting cancer in the one testicle that wasnít removed. Cancer in situ is a condition that doesnít produce a mass or cause symptoms but instead is found when a testicle is removed for cryptorchidism or is found during a workup for infertility. It isnít clear as to how many men may have undiagnosed CIS before developing testicular cancer.

In a study of over 30,000 men who had semen analysis between 1963 and 1995 researchers found that those men who had an abnormal semen analysis also had a greater risk of developing testicular cancer. It appeared that low semen quality may be associated with an increase in extragonadal germ cell tumors.

Racial background also appears to have an impact on the development of testicular cancer. It appears that Caucasians have a 5-10 times greater likelihood of developing the cancer over African Americans and a twice greater risk than Asian Americans.

Researchers also found that 90% of these cancers appear between the ages of 20 and 54 but that it can affect men of any age ñ including infants and the elderly. Interesting there have also been one or two studies that have linked testicular cancer to men who are taller in stature but these results have to be further tested and evaluated.

The risks of testicular cancer are spread across the general population of men. However, because of the recent improvements in diagnosis and early treatment protocols the outlook isnít nearly as grim as it was just 10 years ago.

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