Health Home > Cancer & Chemotherapy > Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer

Healthwise
By Jan Nissl, RN, BS

Did you find this helpful?

Rate this article:
50% of users found this article helpful.

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. However, the following conditions increase the risk of development:

  • Undescended testicle. Men with undescended testicles have the highest risk for developing testicular cancer. This is true even if surgery has been done to secure the testicle in the scrotum.
  • 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 abdomen 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

Author Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Editor Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Philip Belitsky, MD, FRCSC - Urology
Last Updated March 29, 2007
Last Updated: 03/29/2007

Health Resources

help

Featured Expert

Yahoo! Experts share their tips and advice

Breast Cancer Chronicles

By Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S.

See All Yahoo Experts »

Yahoo! Health Groups

Join the Conversation

Join a Yahoo! Group and discuss with other memebers in the group. Share tips and experiences

See All Yahoo Groups »

Tip of the Day

Provided by: RealAgeNov 5, 2009

Piling your favorite sandwich fixings on the right kind of bread could mean healthier blood pressure. The right choice? One hundred percent whole-grain.

Read More »

View All Tips »