Testicular Cancer??

[tlanott]

Hi all,

Longtime sufferer of health anxiety. I'm a 21 year old college student. I recently was feeling my testicles and noticed that my right testicle was bigger than my left, and it seemed the difference between the two was more than "slightly larger" which is apparently what is normal.

It also felt like it was more firm than my left testicle. Both of my testicles were the same shape and had no lumps on them, the only difference here is the size and my perceived feeling of the firmness.

I don't really check my balls all that often so I haven't been able to figure out a standard to go by what is normal for me.

Either way, I'm worried. I appreciate any replies!

[Phuzella]

Go to the doc, and when he says they're OK, you'll know what normal feels like. Then check however often chaps are supposed to check and you'll notice anything out of the ordinary

[tlanott]

Thanks for your response Phuzella. I hate driving myself crazy with health worries. I have an appointment today at 3:15 with my college health center. I can't help thinking that it is significantly bigger and firmer than my left. Hopefully the appointment today will put my mind to rest...

[Phuzella]

Good luck at your appointment. Let us know how you get on

[tlanott]

So I just got out of my appointment. Doctor said that my testicles felt normal but that my right epdidymis felt larger than my left, and said an ultrasound would be the way to make sure everything is clear, which he expects it to be. A little bit nervous but glad he didn’t find anything pressing

[Phuzella]

That's good news

[WiredIncorrectly]

I had testicle cancer 5 years ago. I was washing in the bath one day and felt my ball was as hard as a rock. There was absolutely no give. Hard as a rock.

To be honest I think your doc is just playing it safe and is doing it to put your mind at ease. It doesn't sound like Cancer though. Testicle cancer presents itself as either a hard testicle, or a lump attached to the testicle.

[unsure_about_this]

I'm please that your doctor is sending you for an ultrasound to double check everything, the GP sent me to a specialist two years ago because he thought he felt a lump, I had an ultrasound as well, it turned out to be some cysts relating to the epdidymis at age 32

I went again last year for an ultrasound as I was still worried and the cysts have not changed just can be annoying at times

[axolotl]

My understanding is cancer can't develop in the epididymis, which means that checking will be a general look what's going on rather than expecting to find anything sinister. A cyst is probably most likely.

I've been through this twice in my life, once in my early 20s when I had a noticeable cyst (which eventually shrunk), and last year when I was having pain and it turned out to be varicoceles.

Ultrasounds are generally what they order to have a look and routine, and I'd be very surprised if you got anything else except "yep, it's a cyst".