What to expect when you visit a urologist

First, your doctor will listen to your complaints, examine your testicles and other organs, and order tests. Often, after examining your testicles, your doctor can estimate whether the lesions are similar to those of testicular cancer. An ultrasound examination of the testicles is performed to assess the lesions more accurately. This examination allows a more accurate assessment of whether a nodule in the testicle or an enlargement of the testicle is due to cancer or to another cause. However, surgery is the only way to fully investigate and confirm the diagnosis of cancer. During surgery, the surgeon removes a small piece of abnormal testicular tissue, which is quickly examined under a microscope by a pathologist. If testicular cancer is detected, an orchofuniculectomy is performed, i.e. the entire testicle is removed. The removed testicle is examined microscopically by a pathologist to clarify the type of tumour. More than 95% of all testicular malignancies arise from the epithelium of the seminiferous tubules, i.e. seminomas and non-seminomas (otherwise known as germinogenic tumours). After this operation, the patient can go home the next day. If the cancer has not spread beyond the testicle, the orchofuniculectomy may be sufficient and no other treatment will be needed. However, regular health checks will be needed for several years. Removal of one testicle does not affect a man's ability to have sex or prevent him from having children. If cancer is detected in the testicular tissue, tests will be carried out to see if the cancer has spread to other organs in other parts of the body.