Lump on Testicle question...

[stuntexp]

So.... Starting a few months ago I started to have some dull pain in my testicle area. Sort of like the hours following being hit in the groin. Not anything to bad but enough to make me feel around down there. That is when I noticed a small lump which appeared to be on my right testicle. At first I dismissed it and went on with my everyday life...

Fast forward about a month later when I mentioned the pain, the lump, as well as some lower back pain to my wife. Of course her being the smarter one in the relationship told me I had better make an appointment with the doctor. So I went ahead and made an appointment with my PCP and started doing research on the internet to see if I could do some self diagnosis. To that point I had convinced myself that what I had was where the dead sperm collect and form a pocket. ( sorry forgot what that was called ) and it was going to be a nothing deal.

So off to the Doc I went where he examined the boys and told me that what I had was attached to my right testicle and seemed to be solid in mass. He ruled out scare tissue as well as any other weird conditions such as an STD's etc. OK, not what I wanted to hear! He referred me to the urologist of whom I am going to see this Wednesday. I guess my question from here is two fold.... 1.) In my readings I read that if the mass is attached to the testicle itself that chances of it being cancer seem to be much higher? Is that true? And second.... Even if turns out to be something else, what are the chances that I would be able to keep my testicle? I have read that in order to do any sort of biopsy they have to remove the whole thing. And from there it is just a waiting game and a sorry if it turns out to be nothing. Any insight would be great!!!

Thanks in advance!!

Stuart

[Jens]

Hi Stuart.

1.) In my readings I read that if the mass is attached to the testicle itself that chances of it being cancer seem to be much higher? Is that true?

Yes, that's true. But there is still a lot of other things than TC that can be the cause.

And second.... Even if turns out to be something else, what are the chances that I would be able to keep my testicle? I have read that in order to do any sort of biopsy they have to remove the whole thing.

If it's not TC you get to keep your testicle, in almost all cases. It's not removed in order to get a biopsy, just taken a little out into the open... It will get back inside again, if it's OK.

Waiting for answers is a burden, but for now you should focus on that you (and your wife) are doing the right thing in seeing a urologist. You will most likely get an ultrasound scan.

Make sure you let us know how things turn out.

Best wishes
Jens