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Cancer Symptoms

Cancer Symptoms Introduction

Cancer often has no specific symptoms, so it is important that people limit their risk factors and undergo appropriate cancer screening. Most cancer screening is specific to certain age groups and your primary-care doctor will know what screening to perform depending on your age. People with risk factors for cancer (for example, smokers, heavy alcohol use, high sun exposure, genetics) should be acutely aware of potential cancer symptoms and be evaluated by a physician if any develop.

Consequently, individuals need to know which symptoms might point to cancer. People should not ignore a warning symptom that might lead to early diagnosis and possibly to a cure.



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Cancer Symptoms

Cancer of the Testicle Overview

Testicular cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the testicles. The testicles are the male reproductive organs (gonads), where sperm are produced.

  • The 2 small glands lie in a pouch of skin behind the penis called the scrotal sac, or scrotum.

  • They are attached to the ejaculatory duct in the lower pelvis by cords called spermatic cords, which contain the vas deferens, the narrow tube through which the sperm moves out of the testis.

  • Besides producing and storing sperm, the testicles (or testes) are the main source of male hormones such as testosterone, which control reproduction and sex drive (libido) and impart male physical traits such as deep voice and body and facial hair.

  • Cancer usually occurs in only one testicle. Less than 5% of the time, it occurs in both testicles. (Usually, the 2 tumors are found at different times, the second perhaps...

Read the Cancer of the Testicle article »



Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine

Childhood Cancer, Epidemiology »

Approximately 1.2 million new cases of invasive cancer were diagnosed in the United States. Of these cases, more than 12,000 affected children.

Read More on eMedicine »

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