Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

04/07/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/07/2025 05:23

What Young Males Need to Know About Testicular Cancer

April 07, 2025

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, cancer centers, and other organizations nationwide recognize April as Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. This cancer occurs when cells grow out of control in the testicles, part of the male reproductive system, and there are multiple forms of testicular cancer.

Testicular Cancer Facts and Figures

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS):

  • In 2025, about 9,720 new testicular cancer cases will be diagnosed.
  • About one of every 250 males will develop testicular cancer at some point in their lives.
  • This cancer can affect young males, with the average age at the time of diagnosis being 33. About 6% of cases occur in children and teens, and about 8% occur in men over 55.
  • Because testicular cancer can usually be treated successfully, a man's lifetime risk of dying from this cancer is about 1 in 5,000.

Testicular Cancer Symptoms and Risk Factors

While some testicular cancer cases have no signs or symptoms, signs of this disease can often be caught during a routine exam.

"With the absence of symptoms in the early stages of testicular cancer, I continue to stress the importance of males getting their annual wellness checks with their primary care providers and not hesitating to see their providers if something is not normal," expressed Nitin Vaishampayan, M.D., radiation oncologist and leader of the Genitourinary Oncology Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) at Karmanos.

Symptoms may include swelling of the testicle, a lump, a feeling of heaviness or pain in the scrotum, and aches in the lower abdomen. In rare cases, breast growth or soreness may occur. Certain testicular tumors may cause early puberty in boys.

Many men who develop testicular cancer do not have any risk factors. However, the following may cause a higher risk of the disease:

  • An HIV infection.
  • An undescended testicle.
  • Being of a certain race or ethnicity - White men are four to five times more likely to develop testicular cancer. Americans and Europeans have the highest risk.
  • Family history of testicular cancer or having had testicular cancer before.

Testicular Cancer Treatment at Karmanos Cancer Institute

At Karmanos, testicular cancer is treated by the Genitourinary Oncology MDT, which includes surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, dietitians, social workers, and genetic counselors. The team focuses entirely on treating genitourinary cancers and shares its collective expertise to create a customized treatment plan for each patient. The team uses the latest technologies, including the da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical System and cryotherapy, to achieve optimum patient success.