When it comes to cancer prevention, early diagnosis is of paramount importance in raising life expectancy and maximizing the chances of recovery. The most common sign of testicular cancer is the perception of a nodule indolent to self-palpation, which is not the only sign of this disease. Men with this neoplasm may experience different types of symptoms. Let’s see which ones together with Dr. Giovanni Lughezzani, urologist at Humanitas.

Incidence

Testicular cancer most frequently affects men under 44 years of age and it is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm for men between 15 and 34 years of age. It is almost always curable so it is important to know the signs and symptoms. Here are five less well-known symptoms that it is important not to ignore:

A feeling of heaviness or pressure in the scrotum

Variation in testicle size or density: Some types of testicular tumors may reduce testosterone or increase estrogen levels in the body, which may result in a change in testicle size or consistency.

Swollen legs

When a tumor spreads to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, it can reduce venous blood flow and cause clots to form inside them, resulting in venous thrombosis. The most common sites of formation of these clots are the vessels of the lower limbs and this possibility can result in a swelling of the legs themselves. Migration of these clots to the lungs can sometimes result in respiratory difficulties.

Low back pain and shortness of breath

These symptoms generally belong to the symptomatology of advanced testicular cancer, that is, when metastases have already spread from retroperitoneal lymph nodes rather than at the pulmonary level.

Breast growth

In rare cases, some hormonal changes can cause breast tension or growth of breast tissue. Specifically, several cancers may secrete high levels of a hormone called human-coronary gonadotropin (HCG), which stimulates breast development.

Discussion with the specialist

If you experience any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor immediately. If it is not a bacterial infection (orchite/orchiepiddimite) and the symptoms are not rapidly resolved with antibiotic therapy, it will be necessary to undergo an ultrasound scan to rule out the presence of a testicular tumor. The disease in fact has the characteristic of growing rapidly and the chances of treatment are greater in case of early diagnosis: that is why it is important not to wait too long before you visit.