Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer occurs in the testicles. The testicles are located in the scrotum, producing male sex hormones and sperm. Testicular cancer is relatively rare, but is the most common cancer in males between the ages of 15-34 in the United States. Signs and symptoms may include a lump or enlargement in the testicle, a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, sudden development of a scrotal fluid collection, enlargement/tenderness of the breasts, unexplained fatigue, or a dull ache in the abdomen, groin, testicle, or scrotum. Nearly all testicular cancers begin in the germ cells, the cells responsible for producing immature sperm.

Risk factors include undescended testicles (cryptorchidism), abnormal testicle development, a family history of testicular cancer, age (15-34 years), and race. Testicular cancer is more common in white men. Several tests including blood work or imaging may be used to diagnose these cancers and treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. There's no certain way to prevent the development of these cancers, however regular examination of the testicles may help in identifying a problem as early as possible.