As scary as the thought is, cancer can grow inside the body and remain undetected with little or no symptoms. Some people find out after becoming extremely ill, having strange symptoms, or when visiting the doctor for something seemingly unrelated.
A few years ago, a story made the rounds about a young man who was diagnosed after taking a pregnancy test. Yep, you read that right, a pregnancy test. First shared on Reddit by the guy’s friend, the story was drawn as a cartoon about how said-friend decided to take a pregnancy test that an ex-girlfriend had left behind just for laughs.
When it came out positive, he was shocked. Fellow Redditors advised that he should have himself checked out for testicular cancer as a positive pregnancy test could mean it was a possibility. It turned out to be wise advice, because doctors found a small cancerous tumor on his testicle.
In this video, you’ll hear about Byron, an 18-year-old who was also diagnosed with testicular cancer. What helped to confirm his diagnosis for his medical team was a pregnancy test. You may be wondering if this can be true, and if so, how?
Well, it is true that pregnancy tests can help detect certain cancers, including some types of testicular cancer. The tests work by identifying traces of hCG, a hormone created in cells during pregnancy. There are some tumors that also produce hCG, including those that originate in the sex organs.
That seems to be the case with both of the young men described above, though it is important to note that not all tumors secrete hCG and not all forms of cancer in the reproductive organs are detectable by hCG levels or pregnancy tests.
According to the National Cancer Institute, testicular cancer is most common in young males between the ages of 20 and 34, but males in their late teens are also commonly affected. The average age for a diagnosis is 33.
The American Cancer Society cautions that not all testicular tumors produce enough hCG to be caught by pregnancy tests, and therefore it is not 100% reliable for screening. It is possible for a guy to still have it even if a pregnancy test shows a negative result.
Instead, watch out for these signs and symptoms of testicular cancer:
- Lump in testicle
- Pain or swelling in the testicle area
- Pain in lower abdomen, back, or stomach
- Early puberty
Click on the video to hear more about Byron’s diagnosis and his cancer journey. It is quite remarkable that a simple, inexpensive pregnancy test helped to pinpoint his condition, and it was caught early enough to save him!
Doctors encourage men to have a regular checkup after they hit puberty or do self-exams to check for suspicious lumps. If you do find something concerning, seek medical attention right away. Survival rates for this cancer type are relatively high with proper treatment, so detection is key!
What are your thoughts on this unique cancer detection method for men? Do you know someone who was diagnosed with testicular cancer?
