How to Check for Testicular Cancer

What does testicular cancer feel like, and how do you know if you have testicular cancer?

Testicular cancer is uncommon, but it most often happens in young patients. And it’s one of the leading cancer diagnoses in males aged 20-39 — a time of life when cancer is often far from people’s minds.

It’s also highly survivable when caught early, with a five-year survival rate of 95% and a cure rate of 90%, according to experts.

However, if left undiagnosed or untreated, testicular cancer can become life-threatening by metastasizing and spreading to the rest of the body. The experts of USC Urology, part of Keck Medicine of USC, share what you need to do to catch testicular cancer early on, when it’s easiest to treat.

Who’s at risk of testicular cancer?

Testicular cancer can develop in males of all ages, but it’s most common in people between the ages of 20 and 39. Additional risk factors include:

• Abnormal testicle development.
• Having been born with an undescended testicle.
• A personal or family history of testicular cancer.
• Being white or Native American.
• Being HIV-positive.

Symptoms of testicular cancer

The most common symptom of testicular cancer is a painless lump or abnormal swelling of the testicle. Occasionally, men will notice:

• A change in how the testicle feels.
• A dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin.
• A sudden build-up of fluid in the scrotum or an increase in size.

How to check for testicular cancer

Doctors recommend that people at high risk for testicular cancer begin monthly self-exams after puberty starts to catch any abnormalities as early as possible.

1. During or after a warm bath or shower, stand in front of a mirror and check for abnormal testicle swelling.
2. Using both hands, hold one of your testicles between your thumbs and fingers.
3. Gently roll the testicle between your fingers, feeling for hard lumps, nodules or changes in size or shape. Make sure the testicle is smooth and firm to the touch.
4. Repeat on the other side.

You should not feel any pain during the exam. If you feel pain that doesn’t go away with a gentler touch, or you feel any soreness or heaviness, call your doctor as soon as you can.

It’s important to remember that many things can cause swelling or a lump on the testicle, and they also require medical attention. If you find anything that doesn’t seem normal, call your doctor for a physical exam. They may also order blood tests (such as those that identify tumor markers related to testicular cancer) or perform an ultrasound to confirm the underlying cause.

If you want to learn more about risk factors or self-exams, or you’ve found an abnormality, the experts of USC Urology can help.

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