Symptoms and Signs
A painless lump in one of the testicles is the most common presenting symptom of testicular cancer.
All swellings that are firm and solid in a young male’s testis should be regarded as cancerous, until proven otherwise.
The common symptoms of testicular cancer include:
- A change in the size (increase or decrease) or shape in any of the testicles
- A feeling of heaviness in the scrotal region
- Pain may or may not be present
- Abnormal sensitivity or loss of sensation in the scrotum. A dull pain in belly, groin, or in the lower back.The pain may be present in all the three areas at the same time.
- Inability to indulge in sexual activity
- Presence of blood in the semen
- Build-up of fluid or hydrocele in the scrotum
- A general feeling of weakness and fatigue
- Gynecomastia
or growth of breast on the chest wall maybe among the presenting complaints in 5% of patients with high levels of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)
- Pulmonary symptoms
such as chest pain, shortness of breath or hemoptysis, may be seen in patients with advanced illness
- Metastasis, at first presentation is seen in about 5% of the patients