Testicular cancer

Your testicles  produce the hormone testosterone, as well as sperm, which is needed to create a baby.   

Testicular cancer develops in the testicles. It can occur to men at any age, although it's more common in men under the age of 50. ^{Footnote [1]}  As with all types of cancer, catching this growth early can be really important, as this helps doctors to treat it quickly. The thought of finding cancer might be scary, but, if it’s found, doctors have lots of ways to fight it.  

Testicular cancer starts from cells in the testicles that have started to grow uncontrollably.

These cells form into a lump, known as a tumour. 

Not all lumps are cancer, but it’s still important to have them checked by a doctor. If it isn’t treated, it can spread throughout your testicles and travel to other parts of the body.

Many people who are diagnosed with testicular cancer undergo treatment and can go on to lead a normal everyday life.

You can check your testicles to see if you have signs of testicular cancer. Regularly checking your testicles can help you to notice any change in their appearance, size, or feel.  

Some of the symptoms of testicular cancer include: ^{Footnote [2]}  

• Heavy or hard scrotum (the skin).
  
• An enlarged testicle or a new difference between the size of each testicle.
• A swelling or lump in a testicle.
• Sharp pain or feeling uncomfortable in your testicle or scrotum.
• Firmer testicles or a change to how they feel. 

These symptoms can also be caused by other illnesses, so they don't always mean that you have cancer. If you have any of these symptoms, you should speak to your doctor.

Symptoms might include the following, associated with testicular cancer that has spread to other parts of the body:

• Difficulty breathing and swallowing.
  
• Unexplained coughing.
• Swollen chest area.
• Pain in the back or lower abdomen

Your doctor may want to examine your testicles. You might feel embarrassed about this, but don’t worry. If you’d prefer to be seen by a male doctor, you can ask for this when you book your appointment. Doctors perform this check-up all the time. They may also listen to your chest.

You may then be sent for some blood tests or referred to a specialist, who may order other investigations ^{Footnote [3]}  to assess the lump and see if any testicular cancer has spread, for example:

• An ultrasound scan 
  
• A CT scan
• An MRI scan. 

If you have testicular cancer, the treatment you'll be offered will be tailored to you and your cancer. A multidisciplinary team of specialists will look at the type of cancer you have, whether it's spread, your overall fitness, and how likely your cancer is to return after treatment. They’ll then work out a treatment plan for you.

You may be offered one or several of the following treatments: ^{Footnote [4]} 

• Surgery to remove your testicle. You will usually be offered a testicular implant to replace the missing one. You may also have surgery to remove cancer that has spread elsewhere in your body. After surgery, you may need other treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
• Chemotherapy drugs to destroy cancer throughout your body.
• Radiotherapy treatment to destroy cancer cells.

You may need regular tests after treatment to check if your cancer has come back.

Having a testicle removed won’t usually affect your fertility. However, if you plan to have a baby in the future, non-surgical treatments could affect your fertility. Speak to your doctor about storing your sperm before starting treatment.

There are a few types ^{Footnote [5]} of testicular cancer. 

Germ cell tumours

Most testicular cancer starts in the germ cells that produce sperm. Sometimes, abnormal germ cells can spread and develop into cancer. Until they spread, these cells are usually harmless.

There are three types of germ cell tumour:

• Seminoma tumours. These are more common in men over the age of 30.
• Non-seminoma tumours. These can spread more quickly than seminoma tumours.
• Mixed germ cell tumours. These contain both seminoma and non-seminoma cells.

You will be offered different forms of treatment depending on which you have. 

Spermatocytic tumours

These tumours usually develop later in life. They’re unlikely to spread throughout the body and are usually easier to treat than germ cell tumours.

Teratomas and yolk sac tumours

These tumours usually develop in young children who haven’t yet gone through puberty. The tumours respond well to treatment and are unlikely to come back.

Lymphoma

This cancer affects white blood cells in the testicles. It’s very rare and usually only affects men over the age of 50.

Sex cord stromal tumours

These tumours grow in the tissues that support the testicle, known as stroma. They can be benign, which means they aren’t cancerous and shouldn’t spread. 

Doctors don’t yet know what causes testicular cancer, but they have found a few things that can make you more likely to get it. These include: ^{Footnote [6]}

• Your ethnic background. White men have a higher chance of getting testicular cancer.
• Your family history of testicular cancer. It’s much more likely if your father or brother have had it.
• If you have undescended testicles that haven’t been corrected by surgery.
• If you have had testicular cancer before.
• If you have HIV or AIDS.
• If you have abnormal germ cells in the testicle.
• If you were born with hypospadias, or an unusual placement of the opening of the uretha.

If any of these things apply to you, it doesn’t mean that you definitely will get testicular cancer. 

There’s plenty of help available to you if you’re worried that you might have testicular cancer. Speak to your doctor as soon as possible if you have any symptoms.

You could use your health insurance cover to claim for treatment for testicular cancer using your health insurance. First, get a referral from your GP, or through our Digital GP app^. Then, you can make a claim through MyAviva, online, or call us.    

If we confirm your claim meets the terms of your policy, we’ll pay for the treatment directly. Just be sure to tell us if you need more tests or treatment, or if your hospital or specialist changes.  

It’s good to have one less thing to worry about. It takes Aviva.  

^ These services are non-contractual and can be withdrawn or amended by Aviva at any time.