Testicular Cancer

Facts About Testicular Cancer

While often overlooked, testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 35.

Fortunately, it is highly treatable and can often be cured. The five-year relative survival rate for men diagnosed with testicular cancer is about 95 percent. The 10-year survival rate is 90 percent.

Genetics and family history play a large role in testicular cancer. A man is much more likely to develop testicular cancer if his brother or father had it before him. Another important risk factor is having an undescended testicle or having abnormal development of a testicle. However, testicular cancer also occurs in men who have none of these risk factors.

Testicular Self-Exam

For men, a testicular self-exam is an inspection of the appearance and feel of their testicles. Routine self-exams can give them a greater awareness of the condition of their testicles and help detect changes. Self-exams can also alert men to potential testicular problems.

If you detect lumps or other changes during a testicular self-exam, make an appointment with your doctor. Depending on the circumstances, your doctor might do a testicular exam followed by a blood test, ultrasound or biopsy.

However, most changes in your testicles aren’t caused by testicular cancer. A number of noncancerous conditions can cause changes in your testicles, such as a cyst, injury, infection, hernia or collection of fluid around the testicles.

How to Take the Testicular Self-Exam:

  • Look for swelling. Hold your penis out of the way and examine the skin of the scrotum.
  • Examine each testicle. Using both hands, place your index and middle fingers under the testicle and your thumbs on top.
  • Gently roll the testicle between your thumbs and fingers. Look and feel for any changes to your testicle. These could include hard lumps, smooth rounded bumps, or new changes in the size, shape or consistency of the testicle.

No special preparation is necessary to do a testicular self-exam. Some men find that a testicular self-exam is easier during or after a warm bath or shower. Heat relaxes the scrotum, making it easier to check for anything unusual.