Diagnosing Testicular Cancer

If you or your doctor finds a suspicious lump or mass in the scrotum or enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area during an exam, your physician may order an ultrasound of the testes, CT scan of the abdomen, a chest X-ray and blood tests to provide more information to make the most accurate diagnosis. Blood work will be ordered as alpha-fetoprotein and HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) blood tests look for high levels of “tumor markers” that are produced by most testicular cancers.

What to Expect

If you have been diagnosed with testicular cancer, your urologist will explain your treatment options and develop a plan of care for you. Your physician knows that a diagnosis of cancer is scary and will walk you through the process to help you understand your options for the best possible outcome.

In order for your physician to determine the best treatment, it’s important to first stage the cancer:

• Stage 1 – Cancer is confined to the testicle
• Stage 2 – Cancer has spread to abdominal lymph nodes
• Stage 3 – Cancer has spread to lymph nodes or organs in other parts of the body

Treating Testicular Cancer

Click here to learn more about the treatment options available for testicular cancer.