If you notice any of the symptoms of testicular cancer, it is important that you see a doctor.
The most common symptom of testicular cancer is a lump or swelling in one testicle.1 The lump will usually feel hard. Lumps range from only a few millimeters in size to several centimeters.2
But testicular cancer doesn't always feel like a lump. Some men find that one testicle has got bigger or smaller.1 3 Some find that one testicle feels firmer than the other.
When you examine your testicles, you'll be able to feel a soft cord or tube at the back of each testicle.4 And one testicle will probably hang slightly lower than the other. These things are normal and nothing to worry about.
Some men don't get any pain from the lump in their testicle.2 So, you shouldn't ignore a lump just because it doesn't hurt. But some men get pain, or an aching or "dragging" feeling.1 2 You might feel the ache in your testicles, or get a more general ache in the lower part of your body.
There are several other conditions that can cause lumps or swelling in your testicles. But there's always a chance that a lump in your testicle could be cancer. Make sure you see a doctor and get it checked out. Lots of men feel embarrassed about problems that affect their sexual health.5 This shouldn't put you off seeing a doctor. Your doctor will be used to dealing with similar problems. And the sooner you get treated for any kind of cancer, the better.5 But even the later stages of testicular cancer can be successfully treated, so it's never too late to get treatment.
There are some other symptoms you may get if you have testicular cancer. But other, less serious, conditions can cause these things too. See a doctor to get your symptoms checked, but remember that they don't necessarily mean you have cancer.
Some of the symptoms you may get are:
- Enlarged breasts. This can happen on one or both sides of your chest. It happens because testicle cancer affects the balance of hormones in your body6
- Backache. You may get pain in your back if cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes in your abdomen. You get backache because these nodes are just in front of your spine1
- Breathlessness. You may be short of breath if cancer cells have spread to your lungs1
- Infertility. Some men find out they have testicular cancer when they see their doctor because of difficulties getting their partner pregnant.7
- Dearnaley DP, Huddart RA, Horwich A. Managing testicular cancer. BMJ. 2001; 322: 1583-1588. 11431302
- Bosl GJ, Sheinfeld J, Bajorin DF, et al. Chaper 35: cancer of the testis. In: DeVita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA (editors). Cancer: principles and practice of oncology. 6th edition. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, U.S.A.; 2001.
- Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. Management of adult testicular germ cell tumours. Available at http://www.sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign28.pdf (accessed on 23 April 2008).
- Martini FH. Chapter 28: the reproductive system. In: Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology. 5th edition. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 2001.
- Mason OJ, Strauss K. Studying help-seeking for testicular cancer: some lessons from the literature (Part 2). International Journal of Men's Health. 2004; 3: 111-127.
- Harris M, Rizvi S, Hindmarsh J et al. Testicular tumour presenting as gynaecomastia. BMJ. 2006; 332: 837. 16601045
- Tamimi R, Adami H-O. Testicular cancer. In: Adami H-O, Hunter D, Trichopoulos D (editors). Textbook of cancer epidemiology. Oxford Universty Press, Oxford, UK; 2002.
