odd lump

[grt51]

I have discovered a lump on my testicle and I am pretty worried about it.

But the wierd thing is, I cannot always feel the lump. It seems to come and go. I can feel it sometimes, but other times it is not there no matter how I search for it. I went to the doctor for a sports physical not too long ago and he did not feel anything. But later on that day I found the lump again, but maybe an hour later or so once again I could not feel it anymore. Another odd thing about it is that sometimes it seems to be bigger or smaller than the previous time I felt it.

Does anyone have any clue what this could be?

[grt51]

What could be causing a lump other than TC? And why does the lump only appear at certain times? Is it a good sign that the lump can't always be felt? As I said, sometimes I cannot feel the lump at all no matter how I search but then it will just appear and I can feel it again. What could this lump be?

[Scott]

It's likely to be a fluid-filled cyst, or possibly even a normal part of the testicle. To be certain, you could ask your doctor about an ultrasound.

[grt51]

Do cysts usually appear on the testicle itself? Is a cyst harmless and is it necessary to pursue any treatment? What would be causing this lump to just appear and disappear? Is it possible that fluid just collects there momentarily and then drains out? I am pretty sure that the lump is not solid because of how it just kind of disappears, but I am definitely considering an ultrasound to be certain. And if it is not a solid mass, it is definitely not cancer, right? The only thing I am wondering is how necessary it would be if the doctor already had examined the testicle and he didn't find anything.

[Fish]

Go ahead and schedule the ultrasound. It's fairly quick and painless. It's better to find out what for sure what you've got than to keep worrying about it. Especially if it's nothing serious.

[grt51]

Would an ultrasound be able to detect anything if no lump can actually be felt? Since at times, there are actually no signs of any lump, would an ultrasound still be able to tell if something were there but just cannot be felt?

Also, could it be possible that the lump is the result of a hernia I had when I was 8 years old(I'm 16 now)? The hernia caused my left testicle to really swell up alot. The lump that I have is on the left testicle.

[Scott]

Since at times, there are actually no signs of any lump, would an ultrasound still be able to tell if something were there but just cannot be felt?

Yes.

Also, could it be possible that the lump is the result of a hernia I had when I was 8 years old(I'm 16 now)?

Sorry, I have no idea about that one.