Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men 15 to 35 years old. Testicular cancer is more common in white men than in black men.

The causes of testicular cancer are not completely understood. But the following conditions increase the risk of development:

• Undescended testicle. Men with undescended testicles have the highest risk for developing testicular cancer. More study is needed to determine how much, if any, the risk decreases after surgical correction and whether age at the time of surgery is a significant factor.
• Abnormal testicular development.
• Klinefelter syndrome.
• Previous diagnosis of testicular cancer.

The main symptom of testicular cancer is swelling or a painless lump in the scrotum (in or on a testicle). Other symptoms include a dull ache in the belly or pelvis, pain or a feeling of heaviness in the testicles, and fluid collection (edema) in the scrotum.

Testicular cancer is treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The exact treatment depends on the type and extent of the testicular cancer. Most forms of testicular cancer are curable when detected early.

Credits

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	David Messenger, MD
Last Revised	March 1, 2011