Learning About Testicular Cancer
- Grayson Niemi, a 20-year-old student at The Ohio State University (OSU), initially dismissed soreness he felt in his groin as a pulled muscle. After finding a lump on his testicle he sought his doctor’s advice and was diagnosed with stage two testicular cancer shortly after.
- After undergoing two different surgeries, one two remove his testicle and another to remove his swollen lymph nodes, and chemotherapy, Niemi was declared “cancer-free” and hopes his story will encourage others not to hesitate to get symptoms checked.
- Symptoms of testicular cancer can be subtle. Some people may even confuse the early symptoms such as a small mass in their testicle as an injury. But when these signs are dismissed, the cancer can grow and become worse.
- Self examinations are incredibly important when it comes to screening for testicular cancer. Men aged 15 to 55 should perform a monthly self-examination to find any changes in the testes that might indicate cancer at an early stage.
- According to the National Cancer Institute, testicular cancer is often diagnosed in men between the ages of 20 to 39 years and it’s a disease that can usually be cured.
Now, the college sophomore and OSU marching band member, is sharing his cancer story to inspire others to be your own advocate and “don’t wait” to get symptoms checked.
Read MoreNiemi initially experienced soreness in his groin toward the end of his spring semester in his freshman year. He also found a lump on his testicle, but he decided to get through his classes for the year before seeking medical advice.
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It wasn’t until a few weeks after his pain arose that his doctor suggested Niemi get an ultrasound done on the lump, which both his family doctor and his dad, who is also a doctor, suspected to be a benign cyst.
Niemi said that as his dad first read the test results, he said, “This isn’t quite what we thought it was going to be.”
After going back to his doctor to get bloodwork done, Niemi recounted his doctor telling him the bump on his testicle had “blood flow to the area.” meaning it was likely a tumor.
Niemi, who admitted to being in “disbelief and a little bit of shock” at the time of his diagnosis, was then referred to The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he underwent surgery at about a week later.
The resilient college study had his testicle removed during surgery after undergoing fertility preservation. Although the operation went well, further tested revealed his cancer had spread to his lymph nodes.
RELATED: Fertility Preservation After a Cancer Diagnosis
He was ultimately diagnosed with stage 2 testicular cancer that had spread to his abdomen.
Niemi’s next plan of treatment included nine weeks of chemotherapy and an additional surgery to remove his swollen lymph nodes.
Thankfully, results from his second surgery revealed he was “cancer-free” and to be kept under surveillance for cancer recurrence.
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Niemi credits his friends and fellow marching bandmates for supporting him while he was undergoing cancer treatment and living life as normal as possible.
“I spend a lot of time around those people and to have them know (I have cancer) and still treat you normally and still go about their lives but also make sure you’re doing OK is really cool,” he told TODAY.com
“We’re known for being a very high-level band, and you suck it up and do it. But there were definitely some allowances that were made for me this year, which is nice.”
Niemi, who was dubbed the “most inspirational band person,” also credits his family and girlfriend for helping him along the way.
After noting how his cancer journey gave him a “different perspective” in life, Niemi concluded, “It definitely gives you a new outlook on how you approach things and just to be grateful for what you have.”
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Understanding Testicular Cancer
A testicular cancer diagnosis is rare, but it is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in young men. Depending on the stage, the disease is considered extremely treatable. Treatment options can include chemotherapy and radiation, but often the first line of treatment is surgery to remove the testicle which contains the cancerous cells.
Symptoms of testicular cancer can be subtle. Some people may even confuse the early symptoms such as a small mass in their testicle as an injury. But when these signs are dismissed, the cancer can grow and become worse.
Expert Resources On Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Cancer Can Manifest In Interesting Ways, Know The Signs Of This Rare Disease During Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
- Dealing With the Shame That May Come With Testicular Cancer
- 5 Important Facts About Testicular Cancer, Including How to Screen for the Disease
- Smoking Marijuana May Increase Testicular Cancer Risk: Study
- 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Was Diagnosed With Testicular Cancer
“It’s not uncommon to see men come in with masses on their scrotum and have inflammation of the scrotal wall; they develop pain as a result. A lump is the most common symptom of testicular cancer,” Dr. Edwin Posadas, the medical director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, previously told SurvivorNet.
Dealing With the Shame That May Come With Testicular Cancer
Dr. Posadas says some men may even notice blood in their ejaculate as a result of testicular cancer. “This symptom is less common, but always bad,” he said.
Other symptoms can include:
- Breast growth or soreness
- Early puberty in boys
- Low back pain (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, or a cough (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
- Belly pain (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
- Headaches or confusion (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
Dr. Posadas urges young men to seek medical care if they are having symptoms. “Most men under the age of 40 tend not to think about seeing a doctor they need to know to advocate for themselves,” he said.
Screening for Testicular Cancer
Testicular self-examination is one way to screen for this disease, Dr. Posadas says.
“It takes less than a minute,” Dr. Posadas previously told SurvivorNet. “Rub testicles through your fingers looking for any sore areas. Rub the top of the testicle, particularly the delicate epididymis. (The epididymis is a tube at the back of the testicles which stores and carries sperm.)
“Don’t squeeze real hard on there. [You should] look for a smoother feel; if you feel a hard nodule on there, you may require blood work from a urologist. [Testicular cancer] is highly curable, even when it’s advanced.”
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Bradley McGregor, clinical director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, also emphasized the importance of self-examinations.
“It is recommended that men aged 15 to 55 perform a monthly self-examination to find any changes to help find the cancer at an early stage,” Dr. McGregor said. And if someone spots any of the early symptoms, “he should visit his doctor immediately.” It’s important to be aware of your body and get in touch with a doctor if you notice anything unusual.
Dr. McGregor continued, “Testicular cancer commonly occurs from ages 20-45, but it can occur at any age. The highest risk factor for testicular cancer is a history of cryptorchidism, an undescended testicle, where the testicle does not move down into the scrotum before birth.
“Men with a family history of testicular cancer are at increased risk as well. No lifestyle changes have been shown to definitively reduce the risk of testicular cancer.”
What Life May Look Like After Treatment
If patients have not experienced too many complications from their chemotherapy, “they are often able to go back to many of the same things that they did before they had their diagnosis of cancer and are able to live full and complete lives,” Dr. Michael Jain, medical oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
If the cancer does return at some point, any future treatment you get will depend on:
- The type of cancer you had
- The type of treatment you received for it
- How long it has been since you finished your treatment
- Your overall health
Making a Survivorship Care Plan
So what comes after successful treatment? “At that point we often focus on the survivorship issues that they may have, preventing second cancers, and properly following them,” Dr. Jain explains.
A survivorship plan will include a schedule for follow-up exams and tests, plus a schedule for tests to check for any long-term health impacts from your cancer or treatment, and screening for any new cancers.
Your doctor will likely tell you what to look out for in terms of side effects that could show up late or over the long term. Your care team will provide you with diet and physical activity recommendations as part of your survivorship plan.
Moving On From Treatment
It’s natural to feel continuing mental health effects, such as depression and anxiety, even after your treatment ends. This is where you can benefit from a supportive community. Look to strengthen your relationships with friends and family, faith groups, support groups, and mental health professionals to buoy you as you move on from treatment.
In addition to caring for their mental health, people who finish treatment and are in complete remission will want to move on from cancer with a physically healthy lifestyle. Eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, staying at a healthy weight, and not smoking are all lifestyle practices that generally contribute to a healthy quality of life.
Indeed, cancer and its treatment might naturally point survivors in the direction of such practices. “Mostly [we’re] trying to maximize the quality of life that people have, because once you have a cancer diagnosis, I think it is an important time in someone’s life where they can take stock and really understand what’s important,” Dr. Jain adds.
Cancer’s Impact on Male Fertility
Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can damage sperm in men, and hormone therapy can decrease sperm production, according to the National Cancer Institute. Radiation treatment can also lead to lower sperm count and testosterone levels, impacting fertility.
These possible side effects of cancer treatment should be discussed with your doctor before starting treatment. Men may have the option to store their sperm in a sperm bank before treatment to preserve their fertility.
This sperm can then be used later as part of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a procedure in which a woman’s egg is fertilized with sperm in a lab. The embryo is then transferred to a woman’s uterus to develop.
WATCH: Dr. Terri Woodard explains fertility preservation options patients have when going through cancer treatment.
Fertility struggles are also a genuine concern among cancer patients, as certain cancer treatments can cause infertility. Fortunately, in many cases, efforts can be made before beginning treatment to help preserve fertility.
Many couples, at one point or another, experience infertility. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says within the U.S., “about one in five” married women between the ages of 15 to 49 with no prior births are unable to get pregnant after trying for a year. Additionally, “one in four” of women in this group struggle to get pregnant or carry the pregnancy to term.
Infertility may affect many cancer patients undergoing treatment due to cancer treatment’s impacts on the body. Various cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation, can affect both men’s and women’s fertility. Before undergoing cancer treatment, patients should speak to their doctors about fertility preservation if they wish to have a family in the future.
The American Psychological Association said in its Monitor on Psychology Magazine, “A diagnosis of infertility–the inability to get pregnant after a year or more of trying–can lead to depression, anxiety, and other psychological problems, trigger feelings of shame and failure to live up to traditional gender expectations and strain relationships, say psychologists specializing in infertility.”
Among men, infertility can “cut into a man’s feelings of masculinity” and “can lead to issues of shame and embarrassment.” psychologist William D. Petok said.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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