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Self-Examination.. an easy tool for early detection of testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer for men aged between 15 and 45 Fortunately, it’s one of the most treatable cancers and with good survival rates. The incidences of testicular cancers are increasing in incidence worldwide. It is important to identify testicular cancer early to improve the chances for successful treatment.

This cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms until a late stage. That is why self-examination is so important – it is often the only way to catch testicular cancer at an early stage .

The most common symptom is

  • a painless lump
  • swelling appearing on the testicles.

 

Until proven otherwise, any lump or firm part of the testicle should be considered a potential tumor. The testicle may also seem to be larger than usual. Other symptoms include a dull ache or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. Unfortunately, it is common for men not to reveal about these signs for up to an average of 5 months. Since the tumor can spread during that time, it is vital to reach out to your doctor right away.

 

The factors that increase the risk of testicular cancers are

  • Undescended testicles
  • Family history
  • previous history of testicular cancer

 

Men with undescended testicles are about three times more likely to develop testicular cancer than men whose testicles descend at birth or shortly after. Generally men are unaware about the disease and they have a psychological inhibition for self-examination. Monthly testicular self-examination helps us to Identify changes in testicle early and should be done after a warm shower,when the skin of the scrotum is relaxed. Stand in front of the mirror and look for any swelling on the skin of the scrotum and then examine each testicle separately.

Hold your testicle between your thumbs and fingers and roll it gently between your fingers.

Look and feel for any hard lumps or nodules or any change in the size,shape, or consistency of your testicles.
It’s normal for one testicle to be slightly larger than the other, and for one to hang lower than the other. If you have any concerns, get an expert opinion from your specialist.

Testicular cancer is diagnosed by

  • the physical examination
  • ultrasound
  • blood tests that measure tumor markers.

 

Surgical removal of the involved testicle is the first line of treatment followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy depending on the stage of the disease. Around 95 % of all men with testicular cancer make a full
recovery after receiving treatment. Testicular cancer treatment can cause infertility. Patients may consider sperm banking (freezing sperm and storing it) if they want children after their testicular cancer treatment. Other
side effects are due to radiation and chemotherapy.

Follow-up is necessary because testicular cancer may recur. Follow-up treatment involves regular tumour marker blood tests and possibly CT scans.A quantitative study conducted in the UAE in efforts to test the level of awareness regarding general knowledge on testicular cancer and self- examination practices among residents revealed that nearly 50% either never or rarely self-examined. This study suggested that the general public in the region currently possesses little information regarding the symptoms, risk groups and self-examination practices Monthly testicular self-examination is a good tool to pick up changes in testicle early and thus detecting cancer in the initial stage. Programs for improving the level of awareness regarding the disease and importance of testicular self-examination is highly recommended.

 

Dr. Shameer Hameed

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DIP. LAP, MCh (Urology) FECSM (Sexual Medicine)

Specialist Urologist writes in Khaleej times and now available in our blog.

 

testicular cancer
testicular cancer

Mammography

What is mammography?

Mammography is pro-bably the most important tool doctors have to help them diagnose, evaluate, and follow women who’ve had breast cancer and also for screening women for breast cancer.

Safe and highly accurate, a mammogram is an X-ray photograph of the breast. The technique has been in use for about thirty years. It can detect most breast cancers at an early stage, before symptoms develop. Routine mammography is not available to women under 30 unless you have a first degree relative (mother or sister) who has had breast cancer at a young age.

Why is mammography important?

digital-mammographyMammography saves lives. About 1 in 12 women develop breast cancer at some stage in life, mostly over the age of 50. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the chance of a cure.

Finding breast cancers early with mammography has also meant that many more women being treated for breast cancer are able to keep their breasts. When caught early, localized cancers can be removed without resorting to breast removal. Research studies have shown that mammography screening has significantly reduced the number of deaths from breast cancer.

When to get a mammogram?

There’s a lot of confusion about when and how often to get a mammogram. For now, the recommendation is that women get a mammogram once a year, beginning at age 40. If you’re at high risk for breast cancer, with a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or have had radiation treatment to the chest in the past, it’s recommended that you start having annual mammograms at a younger age (often beginning around age 30).

What if there is an abnormality?

Most women have a normal mammogram. Some women are asked to attend again if the X-ray picture is not clear, or to look more closely at a special area of the breast which needs a further detailed check. A small number are found to have early breast cancer and are offered referral to a surgeon for treatment. If any abnormality is detected, the patients would be advised to have an ultrasound of the breast with FNAC (A small needle would be put through the area of abnormality with or without ultrasound guidance, where cells would be taken from that site and sent for microscopic evaluation for cancer cells.)

Three important things to know about mammograms

1. They can save your life. Finding breast cancer early reduces your risk of dying from the disease by 25-30% or more. Women should begin having mammograms yearly at age 40, or earlier if they’re at high risk.

2. Don’t be afraid. It’s a fast procedure (about 5-10 minutes), and discomfort is minimal. The procedure is safe: there’s only a very tiny amount of radiation exposure from a mammogram. To relieve the anxiety of waiting for results, go to a centre that will give you results before you leave.

3. It is our most powerful breast cancer detection tool. However, mammograms can still miss 15-20% of breast cancers that are simply not visible using this technique. Other important tools-such as breast self-exam, clinical breast examination, ultrasound, and MRI can and should be used as complementary tools, but there are no substitutes or replacements for a mammogram.

Screening And Early Detection Of Cervical Cancer

 What is cervical cancer?

It is the cancer of the  entrance or mouth of the uterus(womb). It is a common cancer in women and if not detected early it can be fatal.

Cervical-Cancer

What causes cervical cancer?

It is caused by a virus called human papilloma virus(HPV) which is transmitted through sexual contact. There are many subtypes of the virus. It infects the cells of the cervix and causes abnormal changes in them,which if untreated and persistent can develop into cancer.

 

How  can cervical cancer be prevented?

Cervical cancer can be prevented by regular screening with the PAP smear test which is done in the out patient clinic. In this test the cells on the surface of the cervix are scraped and sent for testing to identify any abnormal changes. Testing for cancer causing HPV virus can be done along with the PAP test. In this way the precancerous stage can be identified and treated to prevent the development of cancer.

 

Who should have PAP smear test and how frequently?

PAP  test is recommended once every 3 years in all sexually active women aged 21-65 years.

If any result is abnormal then more frequent testing may be required.

After 30 yrs if HPV testing is done along with pap smear then 5 yearly testing is adequate.

 

If the pap smear is abnormal what is the next step?

In this case the gynecologist may recommend a further test called colposcopy and a biopsy may be taken if necessary. This is to confirm the presence of abnormality before any treatment is undertaken.

If precancerous changes are confirmed then a procedure known as LEEP/LLETZ(shaving off the abnormal area) may be advised.

If early cancer is detected it can be effectively treated and cured.

 

Is there any other method to prevent cervical cancer?

A vaccine against high risk subtypes of HPV is also available to prevent cervical cancer.it can be taken from 9-26 years of age. Ideally it should be taken before the first sexual contact but can give protection even if taken later.

 

Should women who have received HPV vaccine undergo PAP smear screening?

Vaccine does not protect against all the subtypes of HPV but only against the most high risk ones.So it does not prevent all cervical cancer.Hence women who have received the vaccine should still undergo regular screening though they are at much lower risk of developing cervical cancer.

 
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