Putting It All Together

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to testicular cancer.

• Cancer that develops in a testicle is called testicular cancer.

• The testicles (also called the testes or gonads) are the male sex organs. They produce sperm and are the main source of male hormones.

• Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in young men between the ages of 15 and 34.

• When cancer is suspected, and other tests (x-rays, scans, blood tests) have ruled out other causes, the only sure way to know if cancer is present is to remove the testicle through an operation called the inguinalorchiectomy.

• Testicular cancer is almost always curable if found early. Treatment depends on what kind of cancer it is, and what stage it is when found.

• Treatments for testicular cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

• Follow-up care is extremely important in men who have had testicular cancer. Men who have been treated for cancer in one testicle have about a 1% chance of developing cancer in the remaining testicle.

• Although any man can get testicular cancer, the disease itself is rare, accounting for about 1% of all cancers in American men.

• One of the best ways to find testicular cancer in the early stages is through testicular self-examination (TSE) every month.

• Men with one healthy testicle can still have a normal erection and produce sperm. An operation to remove one testicle does not make a man impotent and seldom interferes with fertility.

• For those men concerned with esthetic appearances, an artificial testicle (prosthesis) can be placed in the scrotum. The prosthesis has the weight and feel of a normal testicle.