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Testicular cancer awareness
Expert reviewer Professor Raj Persad, Consultant Urological Surgeon
Next review due March 2023
It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer. How your testicles look and feel may not be something you’ve given much thought to. But it pays to be familiar with what’s normal for you, and to know a few potential changes to look out for. This can help you to find lumps and swellings that may be signs of testicular cancer at an early stage. If testicular cancer is found early, it can almost always be cured.
About your testicles
Your testicles, also known as testes, are two small, oval-shaped structures inside your scrotum (the pouch or sac that sits underneath your penis). Their main role is to produce sperm and the male sex hormone, testosterone. Testosterone gives you your sex drive (libido) and the ability to get an erection.
Most lumps that develop in testicles aren’t testicular cancer and are caused by other things. These include the following.
- An inguinal hernia. This is a weak spot in the muscles of your lower tummy that allows fatty tissue or a bit of your bowel to pop out into your scrotum.
- Hydrocele. This is a collection of fluid in your scrotum. You can find out more in our FAQ: What is a hydrocele?
- Epididymal cysts. These are fluid-filled lumps.
- A varicocele. This is swelling in the scrotum that’s caused by a collection of abnormally large blood vessels.
How to be testicle aware
Once you hit puberty, it’s important to check your testicles regularly – ideally, every month. This will help you get an idea of their usual look and feel so if there are any changes, you’ll notice them. It’s particularly important to check them if you have a family history of testicular cancer because you may be more at risk. This is also possible if you’ve had surgery in the past to correct the position of your testicles in your scrotum.
The best time to check your testicles is while you’re in the shower or bath or just afterwards. The warmth will relax your scrotum and make it easier to feel anything unusual. Here’s what to do.
- Stand in front of a mirror and check if you can see anything unusual like any swelling on the skin.
- Feel the size and weight of each testicle. You may notice that one testicle is larger or hangs lower than the other. This is completely normal.
- Get to know the feel of your testicles by rolling each one between your fingers and thumb. They should feel smooth, without any lumps or swellings.
- Compare your testicles with each other – get to know any differences between them.
Towards the top, at the back of each testicle, you’ll feel a soft, tender tube. This is called the epididymis, and stores sperm, so it’s good to remember where it is so you don’t mistake it for a lump. Testicular cancer lumps don’t usually develop here but on the sides or in front of your testicle. You might also feel a small and firm lump near the top of your testes. This might well be what’s called the Hydatid of Morgagni (also known as the appendix testis) and is completely normal.
If you have any concerns about any lump, contact your GP for advice.
Testicle changes to get advice about
When you check your testicles, look for any:
- lump, swelling or hardening – and whether any lumps feel like they’re attached to your testicle or are free-floating
- change in how it feels – one may feel like it’s full of fluid, for example
- change in size, shape or weight
Other changes to look out for are:
- a feeling of heaviness in your scrotum
- any pain or a heavy or dull aching feeling in your testicle or scrotum
- a dull ache in your groin
These can sometimes (but not always) be testicular cancer symptoms. If you have any of them, contact your GP for advice.
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Can injuring my testicle cause testicular cancer?
No, nobody has proved that there’s any link between injuring your testicles and getting testicular cancer. But if you injure your testicles, it can cause swelling and inflammation that may hide lumps or other changes and make cancer difficult to detect. On the flip side, an injury to your testicles may bring a lump to your attention.
Doctors don’t yet know exactly why some men develop testicular cancer, but a number of things can make it more likely. It’s probably caused by a combination of things. See our separate topic on testicular cancer to learn more about these. And, if you notice any changes in your testicles or have any concerns about testicular cancer, go and see your GP.
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What will happen if I have a lump in my testicle?
You might feel embarrassed about seeing your GP about a lump in your testicle, but remember this is nothing new to them. They’ll ask about your symptoms and examine you, and may also ask you about your medical history. If your GP thinks the lump isn't normal, they’ll refer you to see a specialist. This is usually a urologist – a doctor who specialises in identifying and treating conditions that affect the urinary system and genitals. They’ll feel the lump to see if it’s likely to be a cancer or not.
You’ll probably need to have some blood tests and an ultrasound scan of your testicles. These will show whether the lump is caused by cancer or another condition.
The outlook for men diagnosed with testicular cancer is one of the best for all cancers. More than nine out of 10 men who are diagnosed early are cured.
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What is a hydrocele?
Your testicle is surrounded by a protective covering, which makes a fluid that helps your testicles to move freely. Any extra fluid usually drains away but sometimes it can build up if your body makes too much, or if it doesn’t empty away properly. This collection of fluid is called a hydrocele.
A hydrocele usually causes a soft, often painless, swelling in your testicle. It can happen if you injure your testicles or get an infection, but may also be caused by testicular cancer. Some baby boys are born with a hydrocele – these don’t usually need treatment and get better within a year or two.
If your hydrocele is small, you’re unlikely to need any treatment. If it’s large and uncomfortable, you may need to have an operation to drain or remove the hydrocele.
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Related information
Testicular cancer
Prostate cancer
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Other helpful websites
- Orchid
0808 802 0010
www.orchid-cancer.org.uk - Men's Health Forum
www.menshealthforum.org.uk
- Orchid
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Sources
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- Scrotal pain and swelling. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk, last revised August 2019
- Hydrocele. Patient. patient.info, last edited 26 February 2016
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- Testicular self-examination. British Association of Urological Surgeons. www.baus.org.uk, published June 2017
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- Appendix testes torsion. Pomajzl AJ, Leslie SW. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, last update 6 November 2019
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- Testicular trauma. Medscape. emedicine.medscape.com, updated 18 September 2019
- Testicular cancer. Patient. patient.info, last edited 24 November 2014
- Testicular cancer. Medscape. emedicine.medscape.com, updated 11 September 2019
- I think I might have...testicular lump. British Association of Urological Surgeons. www.baus.org.uk, accessed 27 January 2020
- Testicular cancer. Cancer Research UK. www.cancerresearchuk.org, last reviewed 23 February 2018
- Oldenburg J, Fossa SD, Nuver J, et al. Testicular seminoma and non-seminoma: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol 2013; 24(6):vi125–32. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdt304
- Hydrocele. Medscape. emedicine.medscape.com, updated 26 July 2018
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Author information
Reviewed by Rachael Mayfield-Blake, Freelance Health Editor, March 2020
Expert reviewer Professor Raj Persad, Consultant Urological Surgeon
Next review due March 2023
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