What is cancer?
There are over 200 types of cancer, making “cancer” more of a catch-all term for a variety of abnormal cell behaviours rather than a single disease. Cancers occur when DNA in our cells becomes damaged. While DNA damage happens constantly—from things like sunlight, smoking, or even certain foods—our bodies have systems to keep these cells in check. Normally, proteins double-check and repair any DNA damage. If repair fails, the cell undergoes “apoptosis,” a programmed self-destruct mechanism. If this also fails, the immune system may identify and remove the problematic cell. Cancer only develops when these safeguards fail due to a series of random mutations that disrupt several key cell functions simultaneously, creating a cell that grows uncontrollably and forms a tumour.
What Causes Testicular Cancer?
While the exact causes of testicular cancer are unknown, there are risk factors to keep in mind: an undescended testicle, HIV or AIDS, a family history of testicular cancer, being ethnically White, tobacco use, and a larger testicular size. It may be awkward, but it’s worth having a conversation with family members, especially your dad, to find out if there’s any history of testicular cancer in the family.
The most important thing is to know your nuts! When you know what’s normal for you, you can better monitor any changes.
Next time you’re having a warm relaxing shower give yourself a couple minutes to get to grips. The heat will help to relax the scrotum making the testicles and spermatic chords (the tubes that connect your testicles to the lower abdomen) easier to check. One at a time, gently roll your balls, holding them with a thumb and fingers then run along the spermatic chords (at the back or sides). Check for any bumps, lumps, change in firmness, swelling, heaviness or unusual pain. To get more information on how to check yourself (or a really good friend) go to It’s in the bag.
If you notice anything unusual, don’t panic—getting checked is easy. Schedule a visit with your GP. Most lumps turn out to be harmless, but if there’s any uncertainty, your doctor will refer you to a specialist. You may have an ultrasound and blood tests, and if there are concerns, you’ll move on to treatment. But what are those treatments like?
Cancer Treatment Options
Surgery – Removing the Cancer
The simplest form of treatment, surgery involves removing the tumor. This is effective for early-stage cancers, but in stage III or later, when cancer has started to spread, surgery alone may not be enough to eliminate it entirely. Instead, it may be used to reduce the overall cancer load in the body.
Radiotherapy – Targeted Radiation
Radiotherapy uses high-energy waves like X-rays or gamma rays to damage the DNA of cancer cells, which already have compromised DNA. This targeted approach kills the cancerous cells.
Chemotherapy – Slowing Cell Division
Chemotherapy targets the rapid cell division that characterises cancer cells. By slowing down or preventing replication, chemotherapy attacks the cancerous cells. However, because it also affects other fast-dividing cells like those in the gut, skin, bone marrow, and hair, it can have side effects like hair loss.
What’s next?
Talk with your friends and family! There’s no shame in talking about a bump in your bits. The more we all talk about getting checks the less overwhelming it can feel, and the quicker cancer is caught, the simpler it is to cure. Grow a pair and talk about it, the balls are in your court.
Credit: Irish Cancer Society
