Testicular cancer

The testicles produce sperm, which is essential for reproduction, as well as the male sex hormone testosterone.

Compared to other types of cancer, testicular cancer is relatively rare. However, it is the most common cancer among men in the United States between the ages of 15 and 35.

Testicular cancer is highly treatable — even if it has already spread beyond the testicle. Depending on the type and stage of your cancer, your doctor may recommend one or more treatment options, or a combination of therapies. Regular self-examinations through careful palpation can help detect changes at an early stage — when the chances of a full recovery are highest.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer may include:

• A palpable lump or hardening in the testicle

• A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum

• A dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin

• A sudden buildup of fluid in the scrotum

• Discomfort or pain in the testicle or scrotum

• Swelling or tenderness in the breasts

• Back pain

In most cases, only one testicle is affected by cancer.

When should you see a doctor?

If you notice any pain, swelling, or hardening in your testicles or groin area, please schedule an appointment with your doctor or urologist as soon as possible — especially if the symptoms persist for more than two weeks.

Causes

In most cases, the exact cause of testicular cancer remains unknown. However, it is generally understood in medicine that testicular cancer develops when healthy cells in the testicle undergo changes.

Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly manner to maintain normal body function. Occasionally, some cells develop abnormalities that cause them to grow uncontrollably. These abnormal cells, known as cancer cells, continue to divide without regulation. Over time, the accumulating cells form a tumor in the testicle. Nearly all testicular cancers begin in the germ cells — the cells in the testicles responsible for producing sperm. What causes these germ cells to become cancerous is still unknown.

Risk Factors

The following factors may increase your risk of developing testicular cancer:

• Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism)
  During fetal development, the testicles form in the abdomen and typically descend through the inguinal canal into the scrotum before birth. Cryptorchidism refers to the condition in which one or both testicles fail to complete this descent. This can increase the risk of testicular cancer in adulthood. Even if surgery is performed later to reposition the testicle(s), the cancer risk remains elevated. However, most men who develop testicular cancer have no history of undescended testicles.

Other potential risk factors include:

• Abnormal testicular development
  Conditions that affect normal testicular development, such as Klinefelter syndrome, may increase the risk of testicular cancer.

• Family history
  Having close relatives (such as a father or brother) with testicular cancer increases your own risk of developing the disease.

• Age
  Testicular cancer primarily affects teenagers and young men between the ages of 15 and 35, though it can occur at any age.

• Ethnicity
  Testicular cancer is more common in white men than in men of other ethnic backgrounds.