What is testicular cancer?
- Testicles are the oval shaped smooth glands inside the scrotum.
- Testicular cancer happens when abnormal cells grow inside one or both of the testicles.
- We don’t know what causes testicular cancer or how to prevent it from happening.
- Testicular cancer mostly occurs in young men aged between 18 and 39 years old.
- It is usually only in one testicle.
What are my chances of getting testicular cancer?
If you had undescended testicles when you were a baby, or your father or brother has had testicular cancer, your risk might be higher than other men.
Otherwise, you have about a 1 in 200 chance of getting testicular cancer.
How will I know I have it?
You may not have any signs. Some men notice a swelling or a lump in a testicle. This isn’t normally painful. Other signs might be:
- Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
- Change in the size or shape of the testicle
- Feeling of unevenness between testicles
- Pain or ache in the belly, the testicle, or scrotum
- Back pain, swelling or tenderness in the chest - around the nipple area.
If you have any of these signs, talk to a nurse at your health centre.
Is there a test for testicular cancer?
There is no routine screening test for testicular cancer.
What you can do is get to know the regular look and feel of your testicles and talk to a nurse in the health centre if you notice anything unusual.