Testicular Cancer - The More You Know
April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. Testicular cancer develops in the male organs that make male hormones and sperm (testicles).
The Basics:
Though it can affect men at any age, it is most often found in those aged 15 to 44 years.
Symptoms include a lump in either testicle and a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
Treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
To catch this cancer early, men are encouraged to learn about early symptoms, learn how to do a testicular self-exam, and talk with a health care provider if there is a suspicious lump, swelling, or pain in the area.
More than half of those diagnosed with testicular cancer are males between the ages of 20 and 45 years. The following factors may increase your risk of developing testicular cancer.
Family history. A person who has a close relative, particularly a sibling, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer has an increased risk of developing this type of cancer.
Undescended testicle. One or both testicles did not move down into the scrotum before birth.
Race. Although people of any race can develop testicular cancer, white males are more likely than others to be diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Personal history. Individuals who have had cancer in one testicle are at an increased risk of developing cancer in the other testicle.
HIV. Individuals with HIV or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by HIV have a slightly higher risk of developing testicular cancer.
Talk with your health provider regarding your risk of developing testicular cancer.
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