Testicular cancer is a disease that can hit you at any age but the average age at diagnosis is only 33. One man is diagnosed with testicular cancer every hour. 470 men die from this in the US every year, and 10,000 men die from it worldwide. These are sobering statistics.Â
Who is most likely to get it? How is it diagnosed? How is it treated? What is the survival rate? How does it affect sexual function? There are many questions, and I have the answers for you on this episode, so tune in now.
Host: Dr. Kanwal Bawa | Runtime: 18 minutes | Published: March 21, 2023
Opening: Why Testicular Cancer Matters
Dr. Bawa: Welcome to the Dr. Sex Fairy Podcast. I am Dr. Kanwal Bawa, America’s favorite sex doctor and I am here to transform your life. Our topic today is one that could save your life or that of someone near and dear to you. April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, and I want to get a head start on a conversation about this issue. Whether you are male or female, it will benefit you to listen to this episode fully because even if you don't have testicles, you may have a partner, child or sibling that does. My goal for this episode is to take the embarrassment out of the topic, and to blast critically important information out to the world. This is a conversation that needs to be had, and one that needs to be shared. Make sure you text a link to this episode to as many people as you can, both male and female.
He says: “Dr. Sex Fairy is a beacon of light in the darkness of shame when it comes to sexual health. I came across her podcast while listening to the Swing Nation and thought she was so amazing, I listened to all of her episodes in less than two weeks! It’s no wonder she’s so highly popular and more importantly, esteemed. She is educating the world on sexual health with Podcasts and TikTok the way Gutenberg used the printing press to bring the information revolution. I’m currently 37 and while I can’t visit her now, I’m definitely going Bawa Big before 40!”
Age: Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in males between the ages of 15 and 34. You heard me right. Between the ages of 15 and 34. Men in their 20s and 30s are most likely to develop testicular cancer with an average age at diagnosis being 33. This does not mean that those under 20 or over 40 are not at risk. It just means that it is most common in this age group.
An undescended testicle: Testicles actually develop in the abdomen of a fetus not the scrotum. In 3% of male fetuses, the testicles don’t descend into the scrotum before birth. This is called cryptorchidism. In some cases one or both testicles don't descend at all, and in some cases they only descend partially. In the majority of these cases the testicle descends within the first year of life.
A personal history of testicular cancer: This group has the highest risk of developing testicular cancer again. Having had testicular cancer on one side makes you much higher risk for developing it on the other side. 2% of people with testicular cancer will develop it again. This may not seem like a very high risk but it is significantly higher than the average population.
Family history of testicular cancer: A man with a father who had testicular cancer is two to four times more likely to develop it. If a man has a brother with testicular cancer, he has an 8 to 12 times higher risk of developing it. Research has shown that 49% of all the risk factors contributing to testicular cancer are, in fact, inherited.
HIV infection: Men infected with HIV are more likely to develop testicular cancer. Other infections do not seem to pose the same risk.
Race: White men are 4 to 5 times more likely to develop testicular cancer than other races. The next most common race to get it is American Indians. Then come Asians. And finally come blacks. In fact, black men rarely develop testicular cancer. However, black men should not take this as a license to forget about this issue because they are far more likely to die from it.
Body size: According to a 2008 British Journal of Cancer study, men who are 180-184 cm, or 5’9” to 6’ tall are most likely to develop testicular cancer, and those over 185 cm or 6’ have a distinct increase in risk. Those taller than 195 cm or 6’4” have a markedly increased risk.
Physical activity: You had better get your kids outdoors to play. A sedentary child will have a higher risk of developing testicular cancer since increased childhood physical activity has been found to be protective against it in adulthood.
1. Erectile Dysfunction (ED): It is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual activity. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy can all cause ED by damaging nerves, blood vessels, or muscles in the penis.
2. Loss of libido: Testosterone is a hormone that plays a key role in sexual desire. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy can all lower testosterone levels, which can lead to a decreased sex drive.
3. Infertility: Testicular cancer and its treatment can cause infertility by damaging the testicles or interfering with sperm production. You should know that men with testicular cancer tend to have lower quality sperm so fertility preservation must be discussed with your doctor immediately, and the sperm preserved before treatment is started.
4. Orgasmic dysfunction: Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy can affect the nerves and muscles involved in orgasm, making it more difficult to achieve orgasm, or by decreasing the intensity of orgasm.
Closing: Choose Hope
