What is Testicular Cancer?
Testicular cancer occurs in the testicles (testes), which are the male reproductive organ responsible for producing male sex hormones and sperm.
The testes are enclosed within the loose skin of the scrotum located underneath the penis. Testicular cancer usually affects only one testicle.
The cancer most commonly originates in the germ cells of the testes which are responsible for producing immature sperm.
Although researchers still do not know what causes the cancer to develop, several risk factors have been identified.
See your primary care provider if you find a hard, painless lump in a testicle where tissue is normally soft and smooth.
Facts about Testicular Cancer
Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare
· In 2006, there were only 8,000 new cases resulting in 400 deaths in the United States
· This compares to an estimated 720,000 cases of prostate cancer (another male-only cancer) in the U.S. in 2006
· However, between the ages of 15 and 39, testicular cancer ranks as the most common cancer among American males
· The good news is that testicular cancer is highly treatable, even when cancer has spread beyond the testicle
· Testicular cancer accounts for 25% of all cancer found in males ages 15-35, but only 5% of all deaths within the same age range
· A male in the U.S. has a lifetime diagnosis risk of only 3-4 out of 1,000
· Lifetime risk of death is only 2 out of 10,000
·Catching cancer in its earliest stages is important in order to allow treatments the best chance for success. Knowing signs and symptoms of testicular cancer can lead to early detection.
