Testicular Cancer
Cancer of the testicle is 1 of the less common cancers, and tends to mostly affect men between 15 and 49 years of age.
Typical symptoms are a painless swelling or lump in 1 of the testicles, or any change in shape or texture of the testicles.
It's important to be aware of what feels normal for you. Get to know your body and see a GP if you notice any changes.
The testicles
The testicles are the 2 oval-shaped male sex organs that sit inside the scrotum on either side of the penis. The testicles are an important part of the male reproductive system because they produce sperm and the hormone testosterone, which plays a major role in male sexual development.
Types of testicular cancer
The different types of testicular cancer are classified by the type of cells the cancer begins in.
The most common type of testicular cancer is germ cell testicular cancer, which accounts for around 95% of all cases. Germ cells are a type of cell that the body uses to create sperm.
There are 2 main subtypes of germ cell testicular cancer. They are:
- seminomas – which have become more common in the past 20 years and now account for 40 to 45% of testicular cancers
- non-seminomas – which account for most of the rest and include teratomas, embryonal carcinomas, choriocarcinomas and yolk sac tumours
Both types tend to respond well to chemotherapy.
Less common types of testicular cancer include:
- Leydig cell tumours – which account for around 1 to 3% of cases
- Sertoli cell tumours – which account for less than 1% of cases
This topic focuses on germ cell testicular cancer.
How common is testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer, accounting for just 1% of all cancers that occur in men.
Testicular cancer is unusual compared with other cancers because it tends to affect younger men.
Although it's relatively uncommon overall, testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer to affect men between the ages of 15 and 49.
For reasons that are unclear, white men have a higher risk of developing testicular cancer than men from other ethnic groups.
Causes of testicular cancer
The exact cause or causes of testicular cancer are unknown, but a number of factors have been identified that increase a man's risk of developing it.