Can you have testicular cancer for years without knowing?

When cancer originates in one or both testes, a man can go a long time without any obvious signs or symptoms. Regular testicular self-checks can usually find a telltale lump within the scrotum, but not always. Symptoms often don’t appear until the cancer is in its later stages.

When should I be worried about an undescended testicle?

When to see a doctor If the testicle hasn’t moved into the scrotum by the time your son is 4 months old, the problem probably won’t correct itself. Treating an undescended testicle when your son is still a baby might lower the risk of complications later in life, such as infertility and testicular cancer.

How can you tell if you have testicular cancer at home?

Hold your testicle between your thumbs and fingers with both hands and roll it gently between your fingers. Look and feel for any hard lumps or nodules (smooth rounded masses) or any change in the size, shape, or consistency of your testicles.

What is the best way to detect testicular cancer early?

An ultrasound is often the first test done if the doctor thinks you might have testicular cancer. It uses sound waves to produce images of the inside of your body. It can be used to see if a change is a certain benign condition (like a hydrocele or varicocele) or a solid tumor that could be a cancer.

What happens when testicular cancer goes untreated?

If it is not detected and treated, testicular cancer eventually can spread to the lungs, brain, liver, and other parts of the body. Certain types of testicular cancer are more likely to spread than others. Sometimes the cancer will have already spread at the initial time of diagnosis.

Can testicular cancer go away on its own?

Testicular cancer is very curable. While a cancer diagnosis is always serious, the good news about testicular cancer is that it is treated successfully in 95\% of cases. If treated early, the cure rate rises to 98\%.

How serious is an undescended testicle?

An undescended testicle increases the risk of infertility (not being able to have children), testicular cancer, hernias and testicular torsion (twisting). An empty scrotum also can cause significant psychological stress as the boy gets older. For these reasons, early treatment is very important.

What do undescended testes look like?

The main sign: You can’t see or feel the testicle in the scrotum. When both are undescended, the scrotum looks flat and smaller than you’d expect it to be. Some boys have what’s called a retractile testicle. It may move up into their groin when they are cold or scared but moves back down on its own.

Does testicular cancer spread fast?

There are two main types of testicular cancer – seminomas and nonseminomas. Seminomas tend to grow and spread more slowly than nonseminomas, which are more common, accounting for roughly 60 percent of all testicular cancers. How quickly a cancer spreads will vary from patient to patient.

Does testicular cancer grow fast?

What are the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer?

Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include: 1 A lump or enlargement in either testicle 2 A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum 3 A dull ache in the abdomen or groin 4 A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum 5 Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum 6 Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts 7 Back pain More

Do undescended testicles increase the risk of testicular cancer?

Men who have a testicle that never descended are at greater risk of testicular cancer than are men whose testicles descended normally. The risk remains elevated even if the testicle has been surgically relocated to the scrotum. Still, the majority of men who develop testicular cancer don’t have a history of undescended testicles.

When to see a doctor for an undescended testicle?

When to see a doctor. If the testicle hasn’t moved into the scrotum by the time your son is 4 months old, the problem probably won’t correct itself. Treating an undescended testicle when your son is still a baby might lower the risk of complications later in life, such as infertility and testicular cancer.

What does it mean when you have a lump in your testicle?

Testicular lumps. Testicular lumps Pain, swelling or lumps in your testicle or groin area may be a sign or symptom of testicular cancer or other medical conditions requiring treatment.