Testicular Cancer | Busting 6 Common Myths
Testicular Cancer | Busting 6 Common Myths
Let’s take a look at some of the common myths which surround testicular cancer and bust them once and for all.
Testicular cancer is one of many urological health conditions that men can experience. But what do you know about the disease? Today we’re here to separate the facts from the phony to further understand the common condition.
Myth #1: Testicular cancer is common.
Testicular cancer makes up about 1% of all men’s cancers, and the disease affects one in every 263 men over their lifetime. As such, it is a relatively rare form of cancer. Conversely, prostate cancer will impact one in every seven men and is the number one cancerous killer in men.
Myth #2: Testicular cancer impacts older men
While most cancers present a higher threat to older people, testicular cancer presents more risk to young men. Typically, testicular cancer will strike men aged in the late teens, twenties and thirties. In fact, despite it being a rare form of cancer, it is the most common cancer in men between the ages of 15 and 40.
Myth #3: Injuring the testicles increases the risk of cancer
Some people believe that certain activities such as bike riding and horseback riding can cause trauma to the testicles which increase the risk of cancer. Others believe that any injury sustained to the testicles can cause cancer. It can be seen, however, that there is no evidence to support these beliefs. The main risk factors of the disease are family history and being born with an undescended testicle.
Myth #4: If you have testicular cancer, you’ll probably die
The good news about testicular cancer is that it is the single most curable cancer in the world, with a cure rate of more than 95%. The key to curing the disease is early detection. However, it is still highly treatable and curable in the later stages of cancer.
Myth #5: Testicular cancer will ruin your sex life
Many testicular cancer patients become immediately worried about how the disease will affect their sex life. However, most patients can quickly and easily enjoy sex after treatment. While in some cases the testicle will have to be removed during treatment, one testicle alone will still maintain normal sex drive and erections. If both testicles need to be removed, testosterone replacement is an effective way to get patients sex drive feeling back to normal.
Myth #6: Testicular cancer will make you infertile
On top of the stress that their sex drive will disappear is a common fear that testicular cancer will impact fertility. It is important to note that this is not the case for most men. In most cases, if one testicle is removed, you will still return to your normal sperm count after treatment. However, if a patient has to undergo chemotherapy, there is a 20-30% chance of infertility. In this case, banking sperm before treatment is a good option for those who still want to conceive.
Book an appointment with Urology Specialist
It is always important to talk to a trusted professional when it comes to your health. If you have any questions about testicular cancer, or would like to book an appointment, please feel free to contact or call Dr Arianayagam’s office on 1300 307 990, and his staff will be happy to assist.
Interested in finding out more about testicular cancer? Read some of our other blog posts:
An overview of testicular cancer
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