Michael Polson Testicular Cancer Research Paper.

Testicular cancer is a disorder of the cell where cells in the testicles, also known as gonads or testes, are growing at a more rapid rate than normal which can spread to other cells and cause a lifetime of difficulties leading to death. It is a hard lump found in the testicles that is normally without pain and can appear on one or both testicles. The testicles are a major part of the reproductive system and are normally the size of a golf ball contained in the scrotum. They are the primary source of the hormone testosterone and also produce sperm, which is vital for reproduction. There are several different kinds of cells in the testicles of which can grow into becoming many different types of cancer but more than 95% of all testicular cancers start off in cells called germ cells. 5% of testicular cancer starts in supportive tissue. Supportive tissue does not produce sperm but are still vital to the reproduction process. The cancer that starts in supportive tissue is called Sertoli-cell tumors and Leydig-cell tumors. There are only two different kinds of germ cell tumors called seminomas and non-seminomas. The seminomas only make up a little more than a third of all testicular tumors while the non-seminomas make up the rest. Non-seminomas can be branched out into different groups of cancer: choriocarcinoma, yolk sac tumors, embryonal carcinoma, and teratoma. Testicular cancer makes up only 2% of cancers in men, it is one of the most curable types and it is more commonly seen in Caucasian men aged fifteen to thirty-five. It is practically not heard of occurring in other races and other age groups but still possible. In 2004, less than 9,000 cases of testicular cancer occurred and about 350 men died of the cancer. The rate of people getting testicular cancer is growing more and more each year but it is still rarer than other cancers. Testicular cancer occurs where it is colder than most like Scandinavia and Germany, but regions like Africa it is not seen as much. The exact cause of testicular cancer is not known but is more frequently seen in Caucasian males in their mid-teens to mid-thirties that were born with an undescended testicle, a testicle or testicles found in the abdomen not the scrotum, at birth. That condition is called cryptorchidism. If that were to occur, then the risk of getting cancer is four times greater than the average person. Even if surgery were done to put the testicles back in place, the risk is still there and precautions need to be made. 10% of the cases of testicular cancer occur in men who were born with an undescended testicle and of those are in men with regular descended testicles Birth defects like Downs syndrome and Klinefelters syndrome may make it more likely for the disease to show up. An HIV infection can do the same. The symptoms of testicular cancer can be a small lump in the testicle that doesnt hurt. Sometimes there can be a discomfort or a small swelling in the testicle that looks like an infection but actually isnt. If the cancer has spread, abdominal pain and shortnass of breath can occur. Tenderness or swelling of the breast can also occur. Diagnosing testicular cancer early is important. The doctor will examine the testicle and fell for swollen lymph nodes Telling the doctor if the testicle was undescended at birth is important.

Treating testicular cancer is different depending on the stage of the cancer. If its in the testicle and only the testicle, if it has spread to lymph nodes in the abdomen, or if it has spread throughout the body. The first thing thats usually done is the removal of the testicle itself, surgically. 3 weeks after, they will do another surgery called retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and check to see if the cancer has spread any further. If it has, then radiation or chemothereapy will take place.