Most often with testicular cancer, you will find a painless mass
in your scrotum. At other times, either the mass will be
discovered during a routine health check-up or it will be
painful. Painful masses are likely to be infections (
epididymitis or orchitis) and may be treated first with
antibiotics, but all masses or swellings in the scrotum or
testis should be examined by your physician. Your doctor will
ask about your symptoms and medical history and perform a
physical exam, including a careful exam of your testes.
Diagnostic Tests for Testicular Cancer Your doctor may do some
of the following tests: Blood Tests —A sample of your blood is
taken and the levels of certain tumor markers are measured.
Tumor markers are chemicals that sometimes appear in the blood
if cancer is present in the body. Testicular cancer produces two
markers: alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG). These chemicals not only help diagnose the
disease, they are also used to monitor the success of treatment.
Anot