Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American men aged 15 to 35, with about 9,810 new cases and 630 deaths expected in 2026, according to the American Cancer Society. The average patient is 33 at diagnosis.
Caught while the tumor is still confined to the testicle, the five-year relative survival rate reaches 99%. Once cancer cells reach distant sites like the lungs, liver or brain, that figure drops to 72%.
Awareness, not aggressive treatment, does most of the work in closing that gap.
Seven signs worth knowing
The following signs are drawn from the American Cancer Society and Cleveland Clinic. Not every case produces symptoms, and every sign on this list can also have a non-cancerous explanation.
Also read: Common diabetes drug may protect people with high risk heart gene
1. A painless lump on the testicle. The American Cancer Society describes a lump as usually the first symptom. Cleveland Clinic notes that most of the time, the lump does not cause pain, which is exactly why many men wait too long to seek care.
2. Sudden swelling or enlargement. A testicle that suddenly looks bigger can signal fluid buildup in the scrotum around the tumor.
3. A heavy or dragging feeling. Men often describe a sense of heaviness or pressure in the scrotum that wasn't there before.
4. A dull ache in the groin or lower abdomen. The American Cancer Society describes aching in the lower belly or scrotum as a common but non-specific complaint.
Also read: One symptom flags 9 in 10 uterine cancers, and menopause often gets the blame
5. A change in size or firmness. Some tumors produce hormones that alter the affected testicle, sometimes making it shrink or feel unusually firm, according to Cleveland Clinic.
6. Breast tenderness or growth. Certain germ cell tumors secrete human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), the same hormone measured in pregnancy tests. It can stimulate breast tissue and cause soreness or enlargement, known as gynecomastia.
7. Lower back pain. In more advanced disease, cancer that has spread to lymph nodes deep in the abdomen can produce a dull, persistent lower back pain. Shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing up blood point to spread to the lungs.
Most lumps aren't cancer, but you can't tell at home
The American Cancer Society is explicit that several non-cancerous conditions produce the same symptoms. Inflammation of the testicle (orchitis) and inflammation of the epididymis behind it (epididymitis) can both cause swelling and pain, and a hydrocele, meaning a harmless collection of fluid, can feel like a lump.
Also read: 7 warning signs you may be low in vitamin K - and who is most at risk
Sorting one from the other requires a physical exam and, in most cases, a scrotal ultrasound. Neither is invasive.
When to see a doctor
Cleveland Clinic recommends a monthly self-examination, ideally after a warm shower when the scrotum is relaxed. Any firm bump, hard spot or clear size difference between the two testicles is worth flagging.
The American Cancer Society's advice is short. Any of these symptoms warrants seeing a doctor right away. A same-week appointment with a primary care doctor is appropriate for any new lump, hardness or change in a testicle, regardless of whether it hurts.
Also read: 7 warning signs of kidney stones most people mistake for something else
Also read: 8 early warning signs of osteoporosis most people miss until a bone breaks
This article is made and published by Jesper Bengtson, who may have used AI in the preparation.