Testicular cancer is not as common as prostate cancer, but it is just as serious. The rarity of this disease makes it unlikely that a man will catch it, but even so, there are a number of myths that surround this disease. Some of the myths are understandable. Other myths surrounding the disease result more from fear than reality. Here are a few of the more common myths.
Testicular Cancer Surgery Causes the Cancer to Spread
Surgery is not performed to get any cancer to spread. When doctors recommend removing the tumor, they hope to remove the cancer and prevent it from spreading. In rare conditions, trying to remove the tumor can cause it to spread to other parts of the body. This complication happens in very few cases. Doctors will know the likelihood the cancer spreading before it happens. It also depends on how quickly a physician can catch the disease.
Testicular Cancer Ends a Person’s Sex Life
Men associate the testicles with the ability to have intercourse and the other activities associated with other manly duties. Although a testicle may get removed to treat the condition, it is rare that both testicles get removed in cancer patients. Eve if the tumor requires both testes to get removed, the penis and other muscles are unaffected. Hormone replacement therapy can restore most of a person’s desire.
Vasectomies Causes Testicular Cancer
This myth has gone into a peculiar sort of limbo. Studies conducted a few decades ago showed a small increased link in the occurrence of the disease in men who had a vasectomy. More recent studies have not shown a connection. If there is a link, it is relatively small and a person should not decide not to have a vasectomy done based on this research.
Undescended Testes Causes Testicular Cancer
Few men have to worry about this, although it does sometimes occur at birth. The testes do not descend from the scrotum and remain more internal than external. The condition does make it 40 times more likely for a person to develop cancer of the testes. However, the chance extends to a whopping 2%. Prostate cancer is still far more likely in men who suffer fro the condition.
Testicular Cancer Occurs in Older Men
This myth is not only wrong, it is dangerous. Most cases occur in patients between 15 and 40 years of age. The risk of the disease actually increases with age. Just as women are encouraged to check their breasts for lumps once a month, men are encouraged to do the same to the anatomical part that causes the smaller and lower bulge in their pants. The items a person is searching for is the same, a harder lump that signals the sign of a problem.