Testicular cancer occurs when cells in the testicles, the male reproductive glands located in the scrotum, become abnormal and grow out of control.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men but it is also one of the most curable. While it can rarely be fatal, more than 95% of men diagnosed with testicular cancer survive.
Life expectancy for testicular cancer is often expressed in five-year survival rates, that is, how many people will be alive five years after diagnosis.
Testicular cancer five-year survival rates:
- Localized (no sign the cancer has spread outside the testicles): 99%
- Regional (cancer has spread outside the testicles to nearby structures or lymph nodes): 96%
- Distant (cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as the lung, liver, or distant lymph nodes): 73%
What Are Symptoms of Testicular Cancer?
Symptoms of testicular cancer include:
- A painless lump or swelling in the scrotum
- Pain
- A dull ache or heavy sensation in the lower abdomen or around the anus or scrotum
- Early puberty in boys: signs include deepening voice and growth of facial and body hair
- Breast enlargement or soreness (rare)
Symptoms of advanced testicular cancer include:
- Low back pain if cancer spreads to the lymph nodes
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, or cough if cancer spreads to the lungs
- Abdominal pain, either from enlarged lymph nodes or the cancer has spread to the liver
- Headaches or confusion if cancer spreads to the brain
What Causes Testicular Cancer?
The cause of most testicular cancers is not known but genetic changes may be a factor.
Risk factors for developing testicular cancer include:
- Family history of testicular cancer
- Personal history of testicular cancer in the other testicle
- Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism)
- Carcinoma in situ of the testicle
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Age: about half of testicular cancers occur in men between the ages of 20 and 34
- Race/ethnicity: white men develop testicular cancer 4 to 5 times more often than Black and Asian-American men
- Being tall
How Is Testicular Cancer Diagnosed?
Testicular cancer may first be detected when a man finds a lump in his testicle. If testicular cancer is suspected, a doctor will take a patient history and perform a physical examination.
Tests that may be used to confirm a diagnosis of testicular cancer include:
- Testicular ultrasound
- Surgical removal of the testicle (orchiectomy)
- The only way to confirm a diagnosis of testicular cancer
To determine the stage of the cancer and if it has spread beyond the testicle, tests may include:
- Blood tests
- Alpha fetoprotein (AFP)
- Beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG)
- Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
- Computed tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen and pelvis
- Chest X-ray or CT scan of the chest
What Is the Treatment for Testicular Cancer?
Treatment for testicular cancer may involve one or more of the following:
- Surgery to remove the affected testicle (radical inguinal orchiectomy)
- Lymph node removal
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
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