Risks and causes of testicular cancer

Risks and causes of testicular cancer:

Your chances of getting cancer depend on various things, like whether you smoke, eat a balanced diet, and other genetic and environmental factors.

Anything that might raise or lower your risk of cancer is called a risk factor.

We don’t know the exact cause of most testicular cancer cases, but some factors might make you more likely to get it.

Having one or more risk factors doesn’t guarantee you’ll get testicular cancer. Since testicular cancer is uncommon, even if you have risk factors, your overall chance of getting it is still low.

Abnormal cells in the testicles (germ cell neoplasia in situ or GCNIS)

Risk factors for testicular cancer

Undescended testicles(cryptorchidism)

Having undescended testicles (cryptorchidism) can increase the risk of testicular cancer.

In a baby boy, the testicles form in the abdomen and usually move into the scrotum either at birth or during the first year. If they don’t move down on their own or need surgery to do so, they’re called undescended testicles.

Most men with this condition have their testicles move down by puberty. Some may need surgery to correct it. The risk is higher for men who:

– Didn’t have the condition fixed

– Haven’t had surgery by ages 11 to 13

Abnormal cells in the testicles (germ cell neoplasia in situ or GCNIS)

Germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) means there are abnormal cells in the testicle, but it isn’t cancer. There are usually no lumps or other symptoms. It was previously known as carcinoma in situ (CIS). Most testicular cancers that are found after puberty likely start from GCNIS. If untreated, GCNIS can turn into cancer in about half of the cases within 5 years. Doctors might find GCNIS during a testicular biopsy, which is sometimes done to check for infertility. To prevent cancer, you might receive treatment like radiotherapy or surgery, or doctors might just monitor you closely for any signs of cancer.

Family History

If a man has a brother or father who has had testicular cancer, his risk of getting the disease is higher.

– Men with a father who had testicular cancer are about 4-5 times more likely to develop it.

– Men with a brother who had testicular cancer are around 8-9 times more likely to get it.

This increased risk is partly due to genetic factors, where changes in certain genes may play a role.

Previous testicular cancer

If you’ve already had testicular cancer, there’s a higher chance you could develop cancer in your other testicle. It’s crucial to keep up with your follow-up appointments after treatment to monitor your health closely.

Abnormality of the penis and urethra (Hypospadias)

Men who are born with a condition known as hypospadias, which affects the development of the penis and urethra, have a higher likelihood of developing testicular cancer.

HIV or Aids

People living with HIV or AIDS have a higher risk of developing testicular cancer. However, it’s important to note that most cases of testicular cancer are not related to being HIV positive. Antiviral medications used to treat HIV/AIDS may help reduce this increased risk, according to some studies.

Other possible causes:

Stories about what might cause cancer often appear in the media, but it can be hard to know which ones are backed by solid evidence. You may come across other potential causes that aren’t mentioned here. This is either because there’s no strong evidence to support them or because the evidence is still unclear.

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Risks and causes of testicular cancer