During the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer, it's important to know what to look for with these types of cancers. Our physicians can try different cancer treatment options to try to keep the patient comfortable and more at ease about his condition.
Testicular
Testicular cancer is when cancer cells form in one or both testicles. Patients may feel pain in the testicle, heaviness in the scrotum, or find a lump on the testicles. This condition usually occurs in younger men aged 15-34. According to the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER), testicular cancer is not very common. They say that less than 0.4% of men will be diagnosed with testis cancer in their lives. According to their data collected from 2008-2012, 5.6 out of every 100,000 men developed a new case of testis cancer. Additionally, the data shows that the five-year survival rate is very high at 95.3%.
Prostate
A man’s prostate is located in front of his rectum and just below the bladder. Men with prostate cancer may feel pain when urinating or have a hard time emptying the bladder. Blood may be present and the flow of urine may be interrupted. About one out of every five men in the United States could face a prostate cancer diagnosis. Even though the diagnosis is more common than testicular cancer, prostate cancer has a higher five-year survival rate at 98.9%, according to SEER.
Risk Factors
The testicular and prostate cancer statistics are broad and should be interpreted loosely. At Affiliated Urologists, we want our patients to know that prevalence rates do not take into account when the patient was diagnosed. Survival rates and treatment success decline if the patient has an advanced stage of cancer when first diagnosed. The data also does not take into account certain risk factors that make some men more prone to developing cancer.
Men who have an undescended testicle have a higher risk of developing testicular cancer. Both prostate and testicular cancer are more prevalent in men with a family history. Prostate cancer, however, has more risk factors. Some studies have found that obesity or consuming a diet rich in calcium or red meat have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. However, future cancer research is needed to confirm and better understand these cancers and their risk factors.
Resources
Affiliated Urologists offers treatment for both cancers including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgeries and more. As stated before, the sooner a patient comes in for treatment, the easier it will be to eliminate cancer for good.
Affiliated Urologists is an award-winning practice recognized both locally and nationally that has provided service to patients in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and surrounding communities in the Valley, for over 40 years. The physicians emphasize top-of-the-line comprehensive urological care and strive to deliver the highest outcomes for patient satisfaction. To make an appointment, call 602-264-0608 or click here for instructions on scheduling an appointment.
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.