April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

April Is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month And Dr Ntomboxolo Mboyi, An Oncologist Shares Insight Into This Rare Type Of Cancer.

Dr Mboyi is involved in a number of different cancer awareness campaigns. She is a member of the South African Oncology Consortium (SAOC), South African Society of Clinical and Radiation oncology (SASCRO), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) and a Chairperson of the board of Can Survive (non-profit organisation offering support to cancer patients). Dr Mboyi has a BSc (UKZN), MBCHB (Medunsa), Fc Rad Onc (SA), Cancer Biology and Therapeutics: Postgraduate High Impact Cancer Research Program (Harvard Medical School).

Her passion for research and being intimately involved in finding treatment and a cure for cancer have led her to further her studies abroad.

What Is Testicular Cancer?

Testicular cancer occurs in the testicles (testes), which are located inside the scrotum, a loose bag of skin underneath the penis. The testicles produce male sex hormones and sperm for reproduction. Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare. But testicular cancer is the most common cancer in males between the ages of 15 and 35. Testicular cancer is highly treatable, even when cancer has spread beyond the testicle. Depending on the type and stage of testicular cancer, you may receive one of several treatments or a combination. It is a very rare cancer found in < 1% of men. There are 74 500 new cases globally and in South Africa, the lifetime risk is 1 in 1737 men. Mortality rates are very low with a five-year survival rate of 95%.

Self Examination

It is recommended that men carry out a self-exam monthly, preferably after a bath or shower when they are warm using both hands.

How?

Support the testicle with one hand and feel each one with your other hand by cupping one testicle at a time rolling it between the thumb and other fingers using slight pressure in order to feel for any pea-sized lumps which are quite firm like hard rubber, changes in size, tenderness and any other irregularities in the testicle.

Prevention With Regular Self Checks Is Important

Lumps in the testicle, any pain or swelling and changes must be discussed with a doctor.

Common Symptoms:

• Lumps
• Swelling
• Painful scrotal area which is a dull ache sometimes changes the inconsistency of the testicle.
• Patients can also present with lower abdominal pain and groin pain.

Uncommon Symptoms:

• Loss of sexual desire,
• Enlargement of breasts
• Growth of facial and body hair very early in life
• Metastatic symptoms – spreading to other areas can be cough, shortness of breath, chest pain (lung), headaches and confusion (brain) and neck masses.

Risk Factors:

• White people are 5 times more at risk for this type of cancer.
• Personal history – previously diagnosed and cured.
• Family history
• Cryptorchidism-undescended testis i.e stays in the abdomen
• Hypospadias
• Testicular atrophy
• High exposure to Estrogenic compounds in utero.
• Fertility issues e.g. low semen concentration

Treatment Options:

• Surgery and removal of the affected testicle are called orchiectomy.

This is highly dependent on the stage of the disease and whether surgery is sufficient, followed by active surveillance in early disease or patient needs. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy after surgery depends on the advancement of the stage. Metastatic disease treatment options depend on the site.

Dr Ntomboxolo Mboyi:

“THERE IS A GOOD PROGNOSIS IRRESPECTIVE OF STAGE  WITH VERY HIGH SURVIVAL RATES”

There are no preventive methods, but screening for those who are at high risk is always recommended.