Testicular cancer may not be as prevalent as other men’s cancers, such as prostate cancer, but it can still affect the lives of thousands of Americans each year.
Given its relatively low prevalence — only about 1 in every 250 men will develop testicular cancer — information isn’t as readily available as it is for other men’s health issues, and we aim to correct that here.
In this month’s blog post, the team of men’s health experts and oncology specialists at Arizona Urology wants to review five key points about testicular cancer to better guide you.
We’ve already touched on the fact that testicular cancer isn’t all that common, and we want to provide a bit more detail. In 2025, nearly 10,000 cases of testicular cancer will be diagnosed in the United States by year’s end.
Many cancers are associated with older age groups, but this isn’t the case with testicular cancer. The average age of diagnosis is 33, and, outside of skin cancer, testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men between the ages of 15 and 35.
Bear in mind that this isn’t saying much since annual diagnosis rates are under 10,000 in the US. Our point in bringing the age factor up is to emphasize the younger age groups that this cancer affects.
The main risk factors associated with testicular cancer include a close relative with the disease, such as a father or brother, as well as any man who was born with undescended testicles.
Outside of low prevalence, the other bright spot when it comes to testicular cancer is that the disease is about 99% curable if we catch it in the early stages. As with all cancers, if we’re able to diagnose the disease while it’s still contained in your testicle, meaning it hasn’t spread, we’re often able to treat and eradicate the disease.
These treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery (the affected testicle is removed).
Since early detection is key, let’s take a look at some common signs of testicular cancer. Far and away, the most common is a lump in your testicle, which may or may not be painful. As well, swelling in your testicle is another sign you shouldn’t ignore. In fact, according to the Urology Care Foundation, 75 out of 100 men with swelling or a lump in their testicle have cancer.
Outside of a lump or swelling in your testicle, you might feel a general dull ache in your scrotum or groin area, and, in rare cases, men can experience changes in their breast tissues.
So, if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms we outlined above or you have more questions about testicular cancer, please contact us at one of our offices in Phoenix, Goodyear, Gilbert, and Glendale, Arizona, today to schedule an appointment.
