Testicular Cancer Treatment in Sarasota, FL
What is Testicular Cancer?
Testicular cancer is relatively rare, and has a relatively low mortality rate. However, it is still cancer, and you should know how to identify testicular cancer.
What Are The Symptoms of Testicular Cancer?
Signs of testicular cancer include:
- A lump on, or an enlarged, testicle (sometimes without pain)
- Pain or numbness in the abdomen and groin area
- Pain and discomfort near your testicle or scrotum
- Heavy feeling in the scrotum
- A collection of fluid in the scrotum
Most of the time, cancer only affects one testicle. Self-check regularly. If you are experiencing any symptoms of testicular cancer, please call (941) 917-5400 and schedule a consultation with board-certified urologist Dr. Kaplon. Start your testicular cancer testing and treatment at our urology clinic in Sarasota, FL today.
What Are The Risks or Testicular Cancer?
Like many cancers, specific causes are unknown. However, there are risk factors that contribute to testicular cancer that include:
- Age: Testicular cancer is most common in men between the ages of 15-35
- Family History: There is an increased risk of getting testicular cancer if a family member has had it
- Unusual Testicle Development: Conditions such as an descended testicle or Klinefelter’s syndrome can increase your risk of getting testicular cancer
Can You Prevent Testicular Cancer?
Testicular cancer is very easy to treat because it’s easy to detect due to obvious, external symptoms. The first sign of the early stages of testicular cancer is usually a lump. Therefore self-examination is the best preventative measure against testicular cancer.
Here’s how you can perform a self-exam:
- Check yourself once a month, maybe during or after your shower!
- Examine each testicle with both hands, rolling gently between your fingers to feel for abnormalities
- Stand in front of a mirror and look for swelling around the area
If you’re unsure about your self-diagnosis, making an appointment with with Dr. Kaplon even if you think you may notice a sign of testicular cancer is always a good idea. The earlier you may detect it, the easier it is to treat.
Dr. Kaplon may perform ultrasounds or blood tests to diagnose the cancer.
How is Testicular Cancer Treated?
If it is determined you have testicular cancer, there are a few options.
- Surgery to remove your testicle: This is one of the most common treatments for testicular cancer at most stages. If you choose, you have the option to replace it with a prosthetic.
- Surgery to remove lymph nodes: This procedure involves the surgeon making an incision in your abdomen and removing the cancerous lymph nodes. Sometimes nerves can be damaged in the process.
- Radiation Therapy: This treatment is mainly used for specific types of testicular cancer like seminoma. This involves high energy beams like X-rays pinpointed at specific parts of your body. Sometimes this is done for a little while after your testicle is removed as an extra precaution. Side effects include fatigue, redness in the area and possibly infertility.
- Chemotherapy: In some cases, this may be your only treatment option, or can be used in conjunction with lymph node surgery. This process involves drug injection regularly over a period of time. Side effects depend on what type of drug but can include fatigue, nausea, hair loss and possibly permanent infertility.
Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Kaplon for Screening and Treatment for Testicular Cancer
Dr. Daniel Kaplon specializes in the screening and treatment of testicular cancer and is specially trained in da Vinci® surgical procedures. For more information on treatment options, please call (941) 917-5400 to schedule a consultation at our urology clinic in Sarasota, FL.