Testicular cancer affects between 1% and 1,5% of men in France. It is therefore a rare cancer. Early diagnosis and rapid management allow rapid and optimal healing.

Testicular cancer is characterized as a rare tumor (abnormal proliferation of cancer cells). This cancer affects between 1% and 1,5% of men. A predominance is particularly attributed to young men (between 20 years and 35 years). In France, there are around 4,5 new cases of testicular cancer per 100 men per year. Moreover, this incidence has been increasing for a few years, but the associated risk of death has decreased by 000% since the 40s.

There are two phases in testicular cancer:

• the development of non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (TGNS)
• the development of seminomatous germ cell tumors (SGTs)

In almost half of all testicular cancer cases, the diagnosis is made at the so-called “limited” stage. The rapid treatment therefore allows easier healing.

All men are at risk of developing such cancer. In addition, young men (between 20 years and 35 years are more prone to the carcinogenic risk).

The evolutions and complications of testicular cancer can be similar to:

• cardiovascular complications
• development of Raynaud’s syndrome
• pulmonary and / or kidney toxicity

The clinical signs and symptoms associated with this type of cancer include:

• testicular pain
• genes and swelling in the testis
• a feeling of heaviness in the testicle, a consequence of the development of a cell mass that does not diminish over time

Other rarer signs may be related to: development of breasts in men (gynecomastia), pain in the back or even in the abdomen.

Some factors are attributable to an increased risk of developing this type of cancer:

• the presence of a family history of this type of cancer
• the presence of gonadal dysgenesis syndrome or Turner syndrome (abnormalities in the development of the genitals, resulting in the development of female genitalia)
• Klinefelter syndrome (chromosomal abnormality leading to infertility in men)
• Male infertility
• certain environmental factors (estrogen (female hormones) taken by the mother during pregnancy, chemicals, insecticides, etc.)

Treatment for testicular cancer depends on how advanced the disease is. It may be a staging lymph node dissection, chemotherapy or even simple monitoring.

Monitoring is the possible management for patients at low risk of relapse and for whom the assiduous monitoring of treatment by the patient is certain.

Chemotherapy can be used to treat cancer in patients with a high risk of carcinogenic relapse.

Finally, staging dissection is available for patients who do not opt ​​for the previous two options, or who have contraindications that prevent the use of chemotherapy. This management is defined by drainage of the testicle.