Testicular Cancer
Q.
My brother was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 32. That seems really young to have to worry about cancer, and I’ve always heard prostate cancer is what men should really worry about. Do I need to start getting screened for these cancers now? I just turned 30.
A.
Actually, testicular cancer is more common in men from ages 15 – 35. So it’s not unusual that your brother being 32 would have it. While testicular cancer is rare, your risk for it does go up if you have a family history of it. We would recommend mentioning this to your doctor on your next visit. The good news is that it’s highly treatable even if the cancer has spread somewhat. There is not a typical screening, but we do recommend self-checks so you can see a doctor early if it starts to develop. Look for a lump, feelings of heaviness or an ache or any pain or discomfort in that area. Prostate cancer affects older men typically and is the No. 1 cancer risk for men. We recommend prostate cancer screenings starting at age 50. This can be done sooner if you are at higher risk. About one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes. The average age of men at the time of their diagnosis is 66. The five most common cancers for men are prostate, lung, colorectal, bladder and melanoma. At Arkansas Urology, we also treat bladder cancer of those five. There is no typical screening only symptoms to look for, such as blood in your urine, burning pain and needing to go more frequently. Dr. Ronald Kuhn, M.D. Arkansas Urology 1300 Centerview Drive Little Rock, AR 72211 Toll Free 800-255-1762 Local 501-219-8900 www.arkansasurology.com