Testicular Cancer: 10 Terms to Know

Testicular cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the testicles. Men between the ages of 20 and 34 are the most likely to develop this type of cancer, though it can occur in males of any age, including infants and the elderly. If you are at risk for developing testicular cancer, here are some important terms associated with the disease that you should be familiar with.

1. Testicles: Also called the testes, the testicles are a vital part of the male reproductive system. Each testicle is usually a little smaller than a golf ball in adult males. The two main functions of the testicles are to produce hormones, including testosterone, and to create sperm for reproduction. One of the first symptoms of testicular cancer is a lump or enlargement in one of the testicles.
2. Scrotum: The testicles are contained within the scrotum, which is a sac of skin that hangs beneath the base of the penis. One of the symptoms of testicular cancer is a feeling of heaviness or a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.
3. Testosterone: This is one of the male hormones produced by the testicles, and it affects a man’s sex drive and ability to get an erection. While losing one testicle will usually not cause any problems, if you have both testicles removed, your body will not be able to create enough testosterone. This can lead to a decreased sex drive, inability to have erections, fatigue, hot flashes, and loss of muscle mass. Fortunately, most of these side effects can be avoided by taking testosterone supplements.
4. Germ cells: More than 90% of testicular cancers develop in the germ cells of the testicles. Germ cells are responsible for producing immature sperm. There are two main types of germ cell tumors that occur about equally: seminomas and non-seminomas. 
5. Seminoma tumor: This type of germ cell tumor tends to grow and spread more slowly than non-seminoma tumors. These types of tumors usually occur in men between the ages of 25 and 45.
6. Non-seminoma tumor: This type of germ cell tumor generally occurs in men who are in their late teens to early 30s, and it is more rare than seminoma tumors.
7. Stromal tumor: Stromal tumors are the second type of testicular cancer, but they only occur in about 5% of adult cases. However, stromal tumors make up 20% of childhood testicular tumors.
8. Cryptorchidism: This is a condition that occurs when one of the testicles does not descend from the abdomen to the scrotum before birth. Even when surgically corrected, this condition puts you at a significantly higher risk for developing testicular cancer at some point in your life.
9. Radical inguinal orchiectomy: This is usually the first option for treating all types and stages of testicular cancer. This procedure involves removing the affected testicle through a small incision in the groin.
10. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection: If the cancer has spread, then this procedure will usually follow the surgery to remove the testicle. This procedure involves removing surrounding lymph nodes that might have been affected and is usually done laparoscopically.