Your five-minute guide to testicular cancer
11 December 2024
A five-minute guide
Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer among adolescent and adult males aged between 15 and 44, according to figures from charity Cancer Research UK.
The good news is that it is often highly treatable, although the severity depends on the type of testicular cancer you're diagnosed with and whether it has spread.
Here's what you need to know about this form of cancer, which can affect boys, men, and trans women who have not had their testicles removed.
What is testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer is a type of cancer found in the testicles, the oval-shaped organs that hang below the penis in a pouch of skin called the scrotum.
It develops when abnormal cells start to multiply at a faster rate, eventually forming a lump or tumour in one or both testicles.
There are several different types of testicular cancer.
So, if you're diagnosed with testicular cancer, the treatment you are offered will depend on the type of cancer you have, as well as the stage at which the cancer is found.
Common treatments for cancer of this kind include surgery and chemotherapy.
Know your numbers
Although testicular cancer is relatively rare, around 2,400 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer in the UK each year.1
Different types of testicular cancer
The type of testicular cancer a person has is determined by the type of cell in which it starts. The most common form of testicular cancer is a germ cell tumour, which can be a seminoma or a non-seminoma.
Testicular germ cells are the cells that produce sperm.
The tumours that develop in these cells often occur due to germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS), which means there are abnormal cells in the testicle.
In some cases, however, they can also form when GCNIS is not apparent. Cancers of this kind are more common among younger - pre puberty - children and older men.
Other, rarer forms of testicular cancer include:
- Lymphoma, which mostly occurs in men over the age of 50
- Sex cord stromal tumours, which come in several forms, including leydig cell tumours, sertoli cell tumours, and granulosa cell tumours
Did you know?
It's important to check your testicles regularly so you know what's normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes in the size, look or feel of your testicles.
Testicular cancer symptoms
Testicular cancer usually only affects one testicle, although in some cases it can affect both.
The main symptoms to look out for are:
- a lump or swelling in your testicle
- a change in the size of your testicle
- an ache or pain in your testicle or scrotum
- your scrotum feeling heavy, firm, or hard
People with testicular cancer can also experience:
- an ache or pain in the back or lower tummy
- unexplained weight loss
- coughing
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- a sore or swollen chest
How to check for testicular cancer
Starting on one side, roll your fingers gently across your scrotum to feel the surface of the testicle inside. Then do the same thing on the other side.
You're looking for:
- any lumps, bumps, or unusual features (these do not need to be painful to be worth checking out)
- any changes in size - particularly if one or both of your testicles are getting bigger
- any dull soreness or heaviness in the testicles or scrotum
Noticing these changes does not definitely mean you have testicular cancer. But it's important to get them checked by a GP as finding testicular cancer early often makes it easier to treat.
Know your numbers
Men in their early 30s are the most likely to get testicular cancer, which becomes less common as men get older.2
What causes testicular cancer?
The causes of testicular cancer are not always clear. According to the NHS, you might be more likely to get it if:
- you have or had undescended testicles (when one or both testicles do not drop down into the usual place in the scrotum)
- your brother or father has had testicular cancer
- you've had testicular cancer in the past
- you have or had hypospadias, a condition with which the hole that pee and sperm comes out of (urethra) is not at the tip of your penis
- you have been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS
- you are of white British ethnicity
Did you know?
Having one testicle removed does not necessarily have a negative impact on your level of fertility. However, some treatments for testicular cancer can cause fertility problems, so you will generally be offered the chance to collect and store - or bank - your sperm before you begin.
Testicular cancer treatments
The treatment you are given for testicular cancer will depend on:
- the size and type of testicular cancer you are diagnosed with
- whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body
- your general state of health
However, the treatment plan will usually include surgery to remove the testicle concerned, which can often be replaced with an artificial one if you wish.
This can be done during the operation to remove your testicle or at a later date.
In some cases, you'll also need chemotherapy or radiotherapy to attack any remaining cancer cells.
Even if this is not the case, you should be offered regular surveillance tests to catch the cancer early should it come back again.
Know your numbers
The recovery rate for testicular cancer is excellent, with more than 95% of those diagnosed being treated successfully3. However, as with many types of cancer, advanced testicular cancer can be impossible to cure.
Want to find out more about testicular cancer?
If you, or a loved one, has testicular cancer, you can learn more about the condition and the support available for those whose lives are affected by it via the various cancer charities operating in the UK.
These include: