If you want help understanding your normal anatomy, ask your doctor for guidance at your next check-up.
After performing a few self-exams, you’ll recognize normal parts of your anatomy. Keep in mind the epididymis, or a small coiled tube on the side of each testicle, feels like a small lump, but is a normal part of your body. It’s also normal for a testicle to be slightly larger or hang lower than the other. It’s not normal, however, for a testicle to suddenly become swollen, develop an unusual lump, or change shape.
Lumps, swelling, pain, and other symptoms can be caused by a variety of conditions. If you experience any of these symptoms, you’ll need to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
Most lumps found in the scrotum aren’t cancerous, but only a doctor can distinguish between cancer and other conditions.
They might hold a small examination flashlight to your scrotum to see if light passes through a lump or swollen area. If light passes through, the lump is probably filled with liquid and could be a hydrocele. It could be cancerous if it blocks light.
Even when caught at an advanced stage, testicular cancer is usually curable.
Unlike other cancers, doctors typically don’t order a biopsy, which is when a tissue sample is extracted for testing. A biopsy could injure the testicle and increase the risk of cancer spreading to other organs.
Applying ice wrapped in a towel for 10 minutes at a time during the first 24 hours will help with bruising, swelling, and soreness. You’ll likely wear a bandage for the first 48 hours, so you won’t be able to bathe during that time. After 48 hours, clean the area according to your doctor’s instructions. Swelling, redness, and soreness should start to get better within a week, but you’ll need to stick to light activity for about a month.
Radiation or chemotherapy might be necessary if the cancer has spread or if traces of the tumor remain after surgery. In only about 2 percent of cases, both testicles need to be removed. In these rare cases, doctors also recommend testosterone replacement therapy.
