According to reports, incorrect medical care meant doctors needlessly removed testicles. And on one occasion, surgeons mistakenly removed the wrong testicle and then had to operate a second time to remove the correct one - leaving the patient with no testicles.
In many cases surgeons had to remove a testicle that could have been saved if the men had been diagnosed earlier, the MailOnline reports.
This sentiment is echoed by male cancer charity Orchid who are urging men to familiarise themselves with symptoms and seek medical help as soon as possible.
"You should visit your GP as soon as you notice a lump or swelling in one of your testicles. Other signs and symptoms to look out for include fatigue, general feeling of being unwell, a dull ache or sharp pain in you testicles, scrotum or lower abdomen, or a feeling of heaviness in your scrotum," says Katherine Mutsvangwa, Orchid's spokersperson and oncology nurse in genitor-urinary cancer at St Barts Hospital and The London NHS Trust.
Orchid also stress that cases where testicles are removed in error are rare.
Katherine adds: "Removing the affected testicle and tumour by surgery (Orchidectomy) is the standard treatment for testicular cancer and it is extremely rare for the wrong testicle to be removed. By removing the entire testicle chances of a full recovery are greatly improved."
Katherine says that when such procedures are performed correctly, they should not adversely affect fertility, sexual performance or sex drive.
"Many men who have been treated for testicular cancer go on to have families after they have recovered."
"Ninety per cent of the male sex hormone testosterone is produced by the testicles provided the remaining testicle is healthy it will produce more testosterone and sperm to make up for the testicle that has been removed. Men should therefore not be discouraged from seeking medical attention if they have any concerning symptoms."
See below for a list of symptoms, from Orchid and NHS website.
SYMPTOMS:
- A dull ache or sharp pain in your testicles or scrotum, which may come and go
- A feeling of heaviness in your scrotum
- A dull ache in your lower abdomen (stomach area)
- A sudden collection of fluid in your scrotum (hydrocele)
- Fatigue
- A general feeling of being unwell
- Dragging sensation in 29% of cases
- Breast swelling or tenderness (called gynaecomastia). This is rare but may be caused by hormones, which are produced by some types of testicular cancer
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the back, which have enlarged due to spread of cancer