The 24 year old defenseman for the Golden Knights is recovering from surgery after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Shea Theodore in a story in the Player’s Tribune stated that during routine screening an hCG hormone test came up positive which commonly is seen in pregnant women, but could also be a sign of testicular cancer. This triggered his doctors to look for an abnormality. A testicular ultrasound confirmed a 5mm X 5 mm lump, half the size of a pencil eraser and was set up for surgery.
He writes:
After the surgery, when the doctors were able to do a biopsy on the mass in my testicle, they found that it was a mixed germ cell tumor: embryonal and seminoma, stage I. While the embryonal component can be very aggressive and spread to abdominal lymph nodes, mine was caught early because of the comprehensive blood testing they conduct at the Worlds.
Stage I testicular cancer (not spread beyond the testicles), found early has a 99% survival rate after 5 years.
This is a developing story…..
Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer to affect young men, aged 15-44.
Yet the USPSTF has reviewed the evidence for screening for testicular cancer and has recommended AGAINST routine screening.
However, many medical providers still urge young men to do self testicular checks monthly.
Symptoms of testicular cancer may include any of the following:
- Testicular lump
- Testicular pain or heaviness
- Testicular swelling
- Numbness or tingling in the area of the testicle
- Breast swelling
- Back pain
- Abdominal or groin pain
- and more
The earlier testicular cancer is found, the higher the survival rate. This year, cancer.net predicts 9,310 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer in the US.
Dr. Daliah 
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