Can i get testicular cancer at 13

The testicles are part of the male reproductive system. But in can happen in boys and teens during puberty. Testicular cancer is usually diagnosed after a lump is found in the testicle. To find out what is causing the lump, a urologist doctor specializes in treating genital problems will:. The urologist also might order other tests to see if the cancer has spread. These tests may include:. Boys with testicular cancer have a care team to help them get the best treatment. The care team usually includes:.

Depending on the type of cancer and whether it has spread, doctors may treat testicular cancer with:. Most boys who had one testicle removed and still have one healthy testicle can father children later in life. Sometimes doctors recommend sperm banking before cancer treatment begins. Sperm banking freezes and stores sperm for future use. For younger teens and boys, an experimental procedure called sperm aspiration might be possible. This process removes immature sperm cells for future use.

Depending on the type of tumor and its treatment, boys will need follow-up visits that might include:. Sometimes, survivors of testicular cancer can get a second cancer. This usually is another testicular tumor, but also can be other types such as rectal, bladder, kidney, or thyroid cancer.

The 2 most common types of testicular cancer are:. If you have signs of testicular cancer the doctor will ask you about your health and examine you. If signs are pointing to testicular cancer, more tests will be done. Here are some of the tests you may need:.

Ultrasound: Sound waves are used to make pictures of the inside of your body. This is often the first test done. It helps show if a lump in the testicles is solid or fluid filled. Blood tests: Testicular cancer cells often make certain proteins that show up in the blood. Checking for them helps your doctor know which kind of testicular cancer you might have. This can show if the cancer has spread.

MRI scan: Uses radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays to make detailed pictures. This test may be used to see if the cancer has spread. PET scan: Uses a special kind of sugar that can be seen inside your body with a special camera.

This test can help show if the cancer has spread. In a biopsy, the doctor takes out a small piece of tissue to check it for cancer cells.

A biopsy is the only way to tell for sure if you have cancer. For many other kinds of cancer, a biopsy is done before surgery.

But for testicular cancer, this could spread the cancer, so the biopsy is done during surgery to take out the cancer. The cancer cells in the biopsy sample will be graded. This helps doctors predict how fast the cancer is likely to grow and spread. Cancer cells are graded based on how much they look like normal cells. Grades 1, 2, and 3 are used.

Cells that look very different from normal cells are given a higher grade 3 and tend to grow faster. Ask the doctor to explain your cancer's grade. The grade helps the doctor decide which treatment is best for you. If you have testicular cancer, the doctor will want to find out how far it has spread. This is called staging. The stage describes the growth or spread of the cancer through the testicle. It also tells if the cancer has spread to other organs of your body that are close by or farther away.

Your cancer can be stage 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. The lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, like stage 4, means a more serious cancer that has spread beyond the testicles. Be sure to ask the doctor about the cancer stage and what it means for you. There are many ways to treat testicular cancer. The shower is a great place to do a self-check, since the skin around the testicles is relaxed, allowing them to drop.

If he does notice any changes, he should let you know immediately, so you can make an appointment with his health care provider to get to the bottom of the problem. Risk factors for testicular cancer include personal history of the disease, having an undescended testicle, and having an abnormal development of the testicles. These conversations are vital when it comes to detecting this curable disease.