April Lilac Campaign draws attention to testicular cancer

The Brazilian Society of Urology (SBU) is promoting, throughout this month, the Abril Lilás campaign, to raise awareness about a type of tumor that mainly affects young men of reproductive age, between 15 and 35 years old.

According to the SBU Communications Director and campaign coordinator, Karin Anzolch, unlike other tumors, especially urological ones, which affect older men and are more linked to aging, testicular cancer is a tumor characteristic of young men. “The peak incidence begins in adolescence and continues throughout young, reproductive and working life. So, it has this big impact for that reason too”, Karin explained to Brazil Agency.

Testicular cancer is relatively easy to diagnose, said the doctor. “Firstly, it would be enough for men to get to know their bodies better and carry out self-examination. Because, unlike a woman’s ovary, a gland that is hidden, the testicle is an external and totally palpable organ, with a consistency similar to that of the eyeball.” As it is an external organ, the testicle is accessible to palpation.

According to Karina, this recommendation should be passed on to boys, as well as penis hygiene, to avoid cancer of this organ. “This teaching is important because, often, it is the patient himself who makes the diagnosis.” It may also happen that the diagnosis is made late because not much attention is paid to the details that could indicate a tumor, warned the doctor.

Self exam

The doctor emphasizes that testicular cancer is an extremely curable disease, reaching cure rates of 90% to 95%, if found at the stage located within the testicle, without it developing metastasis. Self-examination should be done standing up, preferably during the shower, with warm water that makes the scrotum relax, or in front of the mirror, as a woman does in relation to her breasts.

The teenager, or young man, should feel the testicles, comparing one side to the other and checking if there are any differences, especially any hardened nodules, if there is a change in size between them, pain in the abdomen, groin or scrotum. From adolescence onwards, young people can be taught, along with hygiene issues, to check sensitivity because, knowing this organ, it becomes easier to notice if there is any change, which could be in volume, height, or pain that the person did not have.

It should also be observed whether there is a change in consistency, as the testicle may become more hardened, or even have a nodule or lump on the surface. These are warning signs in the early stages of testicular cancer.

Karin Anzolch warned that some symptoms of testicular cancer can be confused with other diseases, such as inflammation in the testicle itself or in the epididymis (structure with small channels behind the testicle where sperm are stored until they mature), hydrocele (accumulation of fluid in the scrotum) and varicocele (abnormal dilation of the testicular veins). Therefore, the doctor considers it important to have an evaluation by a urologist when noticing something different.

Another diagnosis that the SBU will work on in April is testicular torsion. “The testicle can twist, which is more common in young people and adolescents. Generally, the problem manifests itself with intense and sudden pain, even during sleep. And this testicle, if not distorted in time, may have to be removed. It’s another situation, but the situation differs from testicular cancer, because it doesn’t go slowly. It’s something sudden, painful, and a reason to seek emergency medical care,” he explained.

Mortality

According to the Mortality Atlas of the National Cancer Institute (Inca), testicular cancer was responsible for more than 3,700 deaths in Brazil between 2012 and 2021, of which 60% were among men aged 20 to 39. “It’s shocking, because imagine a young man losing his life to a disease that has a 90% to 95% cure rate. when diagnosed in time. Every effort must be made to prevent this from happening.”

According to the Ministry of Health, in the last five years, more than 25 thousand orchiectomies have been carried out in Brazil (surgery to remove one or both testicles. “It is a lot. In comparison with other tumors, it is clear that the incidence, although statistically corresponds to 1% to 5% of tumors, it is still alarming for the problem as a whole”.

For the SBU, the mission of urologists is also the pedagogical part, guidance, education of the population and health agents “to remember the disease because, often, what is not remembered is not known”, said Karin Anzolch.

The Abril Lilás campaign can be seen at lives (audio and video broadcasts on the internet) on social networks (@portaldaurologia), which will clarify doubts about testicular cancer and draw attention to warning signs.