KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — Testicular cancer is the most common solid cancer affecting young men, yet awareness of the disease remains relatively low.
It affects about one in 250 males globally, with the average age of diagnosis at 33, but is also among the most curable cancers today.
Consultant Urologist and Robotic Surgeon at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, Dr Murali Sundram Mikaail Abdullah said advances in medical treatment have resulted in a five-year survival rate of approximately 95 per cent for testicular cancer, especially when it is diagnosed and treated early.
He said testicular cancer often presents with early warning signs that can be subtle and easily overlooked as the condition is usually painless.
“Many men dismiss these changes or delay seeking medical advice. Any painless lump in the testicle should be promptly assessed (by a doctor) and referred to a urologist,” he said in a statement today.
Dr Murali said the earliest sign of testicular cancer is usually a painless swelling or lump in one testicle, which may be noticed by the patient himself or, in some cases, by his sexual partner.
To support early detection, he advises men, especially those in younger age groups, to perform regular testicular self-examinations, adding that once a lump is detected, diagnosis is usually straightforward.
“A simple ultrasound has a 90 per cent accuracy rate for diagnosing testicular cancer. If a test is positive for cancer, then a more in-depth test like blood tests to check tumour markers and CT scans of the abdomen and lungs are also performed to determine the stage of the cancer, which shows whether it has spread beyond the testicle,” Dr Murali said.
He said when detected early, testicular cancer is usually limited to the testicle, known as Stage I disease, while more advanced stages indicate spread to nearby lymph nodes or organs such as the lungs or bones.
Dr Murali said Stage I testicular cancer is treated with an orchidectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the affected testicle, typically involving just a one-day hospital stay.
He added that outcomes at this stage are highly reassuring, with 70 to 85 per cent of patients cured with surgery alone, while in some cases, a single course of chemotherapy may be advised as an added precaution.
“Orchidectomy usually does not affect sexual function or fertility if the remaining testis has normal function,” he said, adding that patients are monitored closely for at least five years through regular check-ups following treatment.
For patients with Stage II or Stage III disease, he said chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of treatment and is very effective for testicular cancers.
But Dr Murali emphasised that even when testicular cancer is diagnosed at a more advanced stage, outcomes remain encouraging, saying about 70 per cent of patients can be completely cured with chemotherapy, even at advanced stages.
He said for some patients, chemotherapy may leave behind enlarged lymph nodes, and in these cases, a specialised procedure known as retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) may be recommended to remove the remaining cancerous tissue.
“Traditionally, RPLND is performed as open surgery, which typically involves a larger incision and longer recovery time. Today, robotic-assisted surgery is available in selected centres for carefully chosen patients.
“Because of the smaller incisions, recovery time is much shorter,” Dr Murali said, adding that many patients are able to return to their normal daily activities within weeks.
However, he said careful patient selection and surgical expertise remain essential, and open surgery continues to be considered the gold standard for more complex cases.
“For young Malaysian men, awareness is the first line of defence. Taking a moment to perform a simple self-check and seeking medical advice when something feels unusual could make the difference between early treatment and a more serious diagnosis,” he said. — Bernama
