Testicular Disorders—Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but less common.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people who

• Spend a lot of time in the sun or have been sunburned
• Have light-colored skin, hair and eyes
• Have a family member with skin cancer
• Are over age 50

You should have your doctor check any suspicious skin markings and any changes in the way your skin looks. Treatment is more likely to work well when cancer is found early. If not treated, some types of skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and biologic therapy. PDT uses a drug and a type of laser light to kill cancer cells. Biologic therapy boosts your body’s own ability to fight cancer.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

• Basal cell carcinoma (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Mohs micrographic surgery (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Skin lesion biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Skin self-exam (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Squamous cell skin cancer (Medical Encyclopedia)
• What to Know about External Beam Radiation Therapy – NIH – Easy-to-Read (National Cancer Institute) – PDF

Testicles, or testes, make male hormones and sperm. They are two egg-shaped organs inside the scrotum, the loose sac of skin behind the penis. It’s easy to injure your testicles because they are not protected by bones or muscles. Men and boys should wear athletic supporters when they play sports.

You should examine your testicles monthly and seek medical attention for lumps, redness, pain or other changes. Testicles can get inflamed or infected. They can also develop cancer. Testicular cancer is rare and highly treatable. It usually happens between the ages of 15 and 40.

• Anorchia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Hydrocele (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Hydrocele repair (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Orchitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Scrotal masses (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Testicle lump (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Testicle pain (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Testicular self-examination (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Varicocele (Medical Encyclopedia)