Testicular cancer: know the symptoms and how to check yourself(Peter Dazeley-Photographer's Choice-Getty Images)
Peter Dazeley-Photographer's Choice-Getty Images

Testicular cancer is rare, but men between the ages of 15 and 35 are most at risk. Do you know what the symptoms are and how to check yourself?

It's nerve-wracking if you find any unusual changes with your testicles, but if you think you have an issue, seeing your doctor quickly is crucial.

Early diagnosis can be life saving with over 95% of cases being curable if caught early.

Putting off a doctor's appointment isn't going to solve anything. Knowing the symptoms, checking yourself regularly and taking action quickly, are your best means of defence against testicular cancer.

Testicular cancer symptoms

If you experience any of the following changes with your testicles, get things checked out by your GP:
  • A painless lump or swelling (this is the most common symptom of testicular cancer)
  • A dull ache in your scrotum/lower abdomen
  • A feeling of heaviness in your scrotum
It's worth remembering that most testicular lumps turn out not to be cancer. Less than four in 100 testicular lumps are found to be cancer, but getting things officially checked out by your GP is important.

Catching things early

Footballer Neil Harris beat testicular cancer 10 years ago. He credits his recovery to taking action early on: 
Footballer Neil Harris, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2001(EMPICS Sport)
EMPICS Sport
Footballer Neil Harris, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2001, credits his
 recovery to the fact he immediately sought medical advice when he
noticed something was wrong.




"I didn't notice something and ignore it, thinking it would go away," says Harris. "I acted quickly. I was fortunate - I had a rapid growing tumour, but because I caught it early, we could treat it early. I had the tumour removed, and fortunately went through radiotherapy and not chemotherapy.
"If you have got any inkling, any feeling whatsoever that you have a problem ie swelling, abnormal lumps - anything that feels abnormal - you must see your doctor. Acting quickly, could possibly save your life, and certainly make treatments and time scales much easier on yourself and your family.

"Collectively friends and family were so supportive, which made me more determined for them. I remember the oncologist said to me, because I acted early - I could have saved my life. However naive you are about testicular cancer, there's still time to act quickly. I look back now and think 'if I'd have ignored it - who knows?'"

Testicular cancer: how to check yourself
Art exhibit encouraging men to check themselves regularly for signs of testicular cancer(Rex Features)
Rex Features
Regularly checking your testicles,illustrated here 
by an art exhibit designed to promote self
examination, gives youthe best chance of
discovering a potentialproblem,
Ideally, you should examine your testicles once a month. Regular checking gives you a better idea of how your testicles normally feel, and gives you a good chance of discovering anything unusual, early on.
Whether it's you or your partner doing the checking, it's best done after a warm bath or shower when the scrotal skin is relaxed:
  • Hold your scrotum in the palm of your hands, and use your fingers and thumbs to gently check your testicles.
  • Feel one testicle at a time, looking out for any changes in heaviness or size.
  • At the top and back of your testicles, there's a soft tube called the epididymis (which carries and stores sperm). Because of this tube, your testicles won't feel completely smooth at the top or back, which is entirely normal. However, if you think you've found a change in this area, still make an appointment with your GP.
  • The front and sides of your testicles should feel smooth, so check gently for any lumps or swelling.
If you do find any changes with your testicles, make an appointment with your GP immediately to get things checked out.

For more information on how to examine yourself, visit the Keep Your Eye on the Ball website.

Treatments available for testicular cancer

In all cases of testicular cancer, the first treatment option is to remove the affected testicle. While this might sound drastic, it's the most successful way to stop the cancer spreading and make a full recovery.
Man consulting with doctor(Getty Images)
Getty Images
The most successful treatment
of testicular cancer is to remove the
affected testicle.
The procedure, known as an orchidectomy, is performed under general anaesthetic, and a prosthetic testicle (usually made from silicone) can be inserted into the scrotum, to keep things looking very similar to the way they were pre-surgery. It's rare to get testicular cancer in both testicles, so in most cases, just one testicle is removed.
Depending on which type of testicular cancer is diagnosed, and the stage it's at, a course of radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be used after surgery. In more advanced stages of testicular cancer, removing affected lymph nodes may also be necessary.

For more information on treatment options for testicular cancer, visit NHS Choices.

Your fertility
  • The majority of men who were fertile before being diagnosed with testicular cancer, are able to have children after treatment.
  • Chemotherapy is the biggest risk to fertility, for men being treated for testicular cancer. Even so, while it leaves most men temporarily infertile during treatment, seven out of 10 men are still able to father children.
  • Having high levels of chemotherapy, both testicles removed and/or the lymph nodes removed can have a bigger impact on men's fertility. Sperm banking prior to treatment is an option in many cases.
For more information on how testicular cancer can affect your fertility, visit the Cancer Research website.

More information on testicular cancer