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Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer generally affects young men from 15 to 45. But it can often be cured successfully if found early. Discover the risk factors and what to look out for. It's important that boys and men do regular self-examinations!

My brother’s treatment was successful, but the experience still affects me and I still think about it.
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Who gets it?

Compared to other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare. However, almost 2000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the UK, so it is important to know the symptoms.

Cartoon doctor examining a male cartoon character

What is it?

This type of cancer develops from cells within the testes. The testes are the two small oval-shaped organs on either side of the penis that produce and store sperm. Testicular cancer is normally detected as a lump in a testicle. That's why it's so important that boys and men do regular self-examinations!

What causes it? What are my risks?

No-one currently knows what causes any type of cancer, but we do know that some blokes have a higher risk of developing it.

Some factors that increase the risk of developing testicular cancer are:

One or both of a boy's testicles hasn't descended by seven years old
Have had testicular cancer before
A close member of the family has had it
White British men, especially those from wealthy backgrounds, are more likely to develop testicular cancer than African, African-Caribbean or Asian men.

Fact: There's no proof that a sporting strain or injury increases the risk of developing it.

What are the symptoms?

It's easy to spot the symptoms when doing a self-exam. Don't feel shy about doing this exam, it is for your health!

These are the common symptoms:

Hard lump or swelling in a testicle
Increase in size or firmness of a testicle
Dull ache in the scrotum or groin
Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum
Sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.

If you notice anything unusual about your testicles, see a doctor as soon as possible - don't wait!

Treatment

Testicular cancer can often be cured successfully, especially if found early - more than nine out of ten patients are cured, enjoying a normal sex life and fathering children.

Treatment for testicular cancer may include:

Surgery

Removing the affected testicle is the most common way to treat testicular cancer. This reduces the risk of the disease spreading. Removing one testicle won't affect fertility.

Radiotherapy

To prevent the disease coming back after surgery or to treat the disease if it has spread to another area.

Chemotherapy

These drugs may be taken on their own or in combination with surgery and/or radiotherapy, to destroy the cancer cells.