Ophir Loyola Hospital highlights the importance of early diagnosis of testicular cancer

Testicular cancer, considered rare by medicine, accounts for 5% of cases of male urological tumors throughout Brazil. Even with lower occurrence, the Brazilian Society of Urology (SBU) warns that this is the type of cancer that most affects men of reproductive age, between 15 and 35 years, the age group with the highest activity in the labor market.

The disease aggressively affects male fertility. From 2015 to 2024, more than 47,000 orchiectomy surgeries (removal of testicles) were performed in the country. In Belém, the Ophir Loyola Hospital (HOL), a reference in oncology, treated 228 patients between 2019 and 2024. The health institution of the Government of Pará encourages prevention, a practice promoted throughout the country by the April Lilac campaign.

According to a study published in the scientific journal BMC Urology, specialized in urological disorders, there is a projected increase of 26.6% in the death rate from testicular cancer in Brazil from 2026 to 2030. Researchers analyzed mortality data related to the disease from 2001 to 2015. Based on this history, they estimated the growth of deaths over a 15-year period, comparing it with the numbers observed in the analyzed period.

Favorable prognosis - The president of the Brazilian Society of Urology (SBU), Pará Section, Luís Otávio Pinto, a urologist on the HOL team, explains that the neoplasm has a high cell duplication rate, but it is one of the cancers with the highest possibility of cure, over 90% when diagnosed early. “Even in cases of metastasis, the prognosis can be favorable, although late diagnosis increases the risks of sequelae,” warns the specialist.

“A small, hard, and painless nodule is the main warning sign. However, there may be a change in the consistency of the testicles, a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, uncomfortable pain in the lower abdomen or groin, pain or discomfort in the testicle or scrotum. In some cases, breast enlargement or loss of sexual desire, growth of facial and body hair in very young boys, and lower back pain may occur. The symptoms can also be confused with a painful inflammation of the testicles caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections,” adds the urologist.

Risks - Some factors may contribute to the manifestation of the disease, such as a family history of this type of tumor; infertility (caused by other reasons unrelated to cancer); cryptorchidism (failure of one or both testicles to descend into the scrotum) and exposure to pesticides. Additionally, white men have 5 to 10 times higher chances of developing testicular cancer compared to men of other races.

The initial examination is physical. In case of suspicion, imaging and blood tests are requested. “We highlight the ultrasound of the scrotal sac with Doppler, which indicates vascularization. This exam investigates whether there is any mass in the area that is not a torsion or infection. If there is, there is a possibility of it being a testicular tumor, and we indicate the best course of action for the patient. Other tests, such as CT scans or MRIs, are only used to check if the tumor has spread to other organs,” informs Luís Otávio Pinto.

Sequelae - The specialist emphasizes that infertility can be one of the sequelae of the disease in boys and adults. “The inability to have children tends to cause psychological suffering, especially in adulthood. Initially, the young person may not understand the seriousness of the situation. Over time, fertility may become a relevant concern,” adds the doctor.

He adds that “in the Unified Health System (SUS), there is psychological support, with multiprofessional teams, to accommodate these cases, while in the private network it is possible to freeze sperm, provided the patient has already gone through puberty, to be used later in artificial insemination techniques.”

Text: David Martinez, under the supervision of Leila Cruz – Ascom/HOL