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Velvet Digest

What are the early warning signs of testicular cancer?

Author

Ava Hall

Updated on May 20, 2026

Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include:
  • A lump or enlargement in either testicle.
  • A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
  • A dull ache in the abdomen or groin.
  • A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.
  • Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum.
  • Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts.
  • Back pain.

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Also question is, what are 5 warning signs of testicular cancer?

Five Common Signs of Testicular Cancer

  • A painless lump, swelling or enlargement of one or both testes.
  • Pain or heaviness in the scrotum.
  • A dull ache or pressure in the groin, abdomen or low back.
  • A general feeling of malaise, including unexplained fatigue, fever, sweating, coughing, shortness of breath or mild chest pains.
  • Headache and confusion.

Also, is testicular cancer deadly? Testicular cancer is very curable. While a cancer diagnosis is always serious, the good news about testicular cancer is that it is treated successfully in 95 percent of cases. If treated early, that number rises to 98 percent.

Similarly, you may ask, how do you check for testicular cancer?

Hold your testicle between your thumbs and fingers with both hands and roll it gently between your fingers. Look and feel for any hard lumps or nodules (smooth rounded masses) or any change in the size, shape, or consistency of your testicles.

How long does it take for testicular cancer to spread?

Stage 3. More than 80 out of 100 men (more than 80%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis. Stage 3 means the cancer has spread to lymph nodes further away from the testicles: for example, in the armpit or neck.

Related Question Answers

How do you check if your balls are healthy?

How to check
  1. Hold one testicle between the thumbs and fingers of both hands and roll it gently between your fingers.
  2. Look and feel for any hard lumps, or smooth, rounded bumps, or any change in the size, shape, or consistency of the testicles.
  3. Repeat with your other testicle.

Who is at high risk for testicular cancer?

Testicular cancer affects teens and younger men, particularly those between ages 15 and 35. However, it can occur at any age. Race. Testicular cancer is more common in white men than in black men.

Can urine test detect testicular cancer?

Tests you might have include a ultrasound, CT scan, urine and blood tests. A biopsy is not recommended for diagnosing testicular cancer as it can encourage the disease to spread. Therefore, the only way to confirm that cancer is present is to remove the affected testicle.

Will a CT scan show testicular cancer?

A CT scan can help your doctor find out what stage of testicular cancer you have. A CT scan can check if testicular cancer has spread to any lymph nodes in the tummy (abdomen) or chest area. A CT scan is a test that uses x-rays and a computer to create detailed pictures of the inside of your body.

What does a testicular cancer feel like?

The most common testicular cancer symptom is a lump or a swelling in your testicle. Lumps can be as small as a pea. Swelling can feel like an irregular thickening on your testicle. Symptoms are often painless, but there might be some discomfort.

How can you protect yourself from testicular cancer?

Is There a Way to Prevent Testicular Cancer?
  1. Do the exam after a warm shower or bath.
  2. Use both hands to examine each testicle.
  3. As you feel the testicle, you may notice a cord-like structure on top and in back of the testicle.
  4. Feel for any lumps.
  5. You should also get a physical exam once a year.

Does testicular cancer spread fast?

Seminomas are testicular cancers that grow slowly. They're usually confined to your testes, but your lymph nodes may also be involved. Nonseminomas are the more common form of testicular cancer. This type is faster growing and may spread to other parts of your body.

Can you have testicular cancer for years?

Testicular cancer is when unusual cells grow out of control in the tissue of one or both of your testicles. Testicular cancer is generally rare, but it's the most common form in males 15 to 34. It's also one of the easiest cancers to cure. About 95% of men who have it live more than 5 years after they're diagnosed.

What age is testicular cancer most frequently diagnosed?

Testicular cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in young adult men, particularly between ages 30 to 39. This year, there will be 3,100 new cases of the disease in the 30 to 39 age group and 3,000 new cases in the 20 to 29 age group. The average age of diagnosis is 33.

How do you feel when you have cancer in your balls?

Symptoms of testicular cancer may include:
  1. A painless lump or swelling on either testicle.
  2. Pain, discomfort, or numbness in a testicle or the scrotum, with or without swelling.
  3. Change in the way a testicle feels or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
  4. Dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin.

What age group is testicular cancer most common?

Compared with other types of cancer, testicular cancer is rare. But testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 35.

How can I check my balls at home?

How to check
  1. Hold one testicle between the thumbs and fingers of both hands and roll it gently between your fingers.
  2. Look and feel for any hard lumps, or smooth, rounded bumps, or any change in the size, shape, or consistency of the testicles.
  3. Repeat with your other testicle.

How long can you live with untreated testicular cancer?

Survival for all stages of testicular cancer almost all men will survive their cancer for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed. almost all men (98%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.

Why does left testicle hang lower?

It is usually, but not always, the left testicle that hangs lower. The testicles hang in the scrotum by the spermatic cord. They are outside the body because they need to be cooler than the temperature inside the body, in order to make sperm. This lowers the testicles to keep them cooler.

How does testicular cancer affect the body?

In most cases, only one testicle is affected. Sometimes, testicular cancer cells spread into the lymph glands and other organs in the body (most commonly the lungs). If this happens, you may have other symptoms, such as a cough or shortness of breath. Even if testicular cancer spreads, it can usually be cured.

Does testicular cancer affect sperm?

“Tumors from testicular cancer can block or harm the parts of the testes that create sperm,” said Dr. Danella. “In addition, radiation and chemotherapy can both cause a temporary or permanent loss of fertility by damaging the testes and sperm.” Despite this, it is still possible to be fertile after treatment.

Why testicular cancer is caused?

It's not clear what causes testicular cancer in most cases. Doctors know that testicular cancer occurs when healthy cells in a testicle become altered. The accumulating cells form a mass in the testicle. Nearly all testicular cancers begin in the germ cells — the cells in the testicles that produce immature sperm.

What is stage 4 testicular cancer?

Around 80 out of 100 men (around 80%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis. Stage 4 is now classed as a stage 3C cancer. It means the cancer has spread to other organs in the body, such as the lungs. This is called metastatic cancer.

Can stage 4 testicular cancer be cured?

Testicular cancer usually can be cured if it is detected and treated early. However, this cancer can spread silently and quickly. This means that some men will not be diagnosed until the disease is in an advanced stage. At one time, testicular cancer could not be cured if it had spread beyond the testicles.