If you have testicular cancer, you deserve treatment that improves your health and preserves your quality of life. Together, we’ll find the right treatment for your cancer — and for you.
Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute’s testicular cancer oncologists combine medical expertise and compassionate care. Our world-class specialists will use the latest technologies to diagnose and treat your specific cancer.
Your personalized treatment plan will support your overall well-being. Services such as nutritional advice, physical rehabilitation and pain management address your whole journey as a patient.
What is testicular cancer?
The testicles are two small glands that rest near the penis. They are held in a sac of skin called the scrotum. The testicles have cells that produce sperm and the male hormone testosterone.
Testicular cancer occurs when cancer cells form in the testicles. Almost all testicular cancers start in the germ cells, which are cells that make sperm.
Testicular cancer is one of the most highly treatable cancers. The cure rate for early-stage cancers is nearly 100 percent, and the cure rate for later-stage cancer is still higher than most other types of cancer.
Types of Testicular Cancer
Most testicular cancers begin in the cells that make sperm (germ cells). There are two main types of germ cell tumors:
- Seminomas – this type of tumor usually grows slowly and is less likely to spread to other parts of the body.
- Nonseminomas – this type of tumor is usually more aggressive and is more likely to spread quickly to other parts of the body.
A small percentage of testicular cancers start in the cells that make testosterone (stromal cells). Stromal tumors are often noncancerous (benign).
Testicular Cancer Risk Factors
There are few known risk factors for testicular cancer. In fact, most men who develop testicular cancer do not have any of the known risk factors.
Most men who develop this disease are between the ages of 20 and 34. However, testicular cancer has been known to develop in older men and infants.
Some risk factors for testicular cancer can include:
- Having a personal or family history of testicular cancer
- Having an undescended testicle
- Being infected with HIV
Testicular Cancer Prevention
There is not much you can do to prevent testicular cancer because there are few known risk factors, many of which are unavoidable.
Is testicular cancer screening available?
There is no standard practice for testicular cancer screening. In many cases, however, lumps or swelling are often found by chance or during a self-exam. Sometimes a healthcare provider finds cancer during a routine physical exam. Fortunately, there are plenty of effective treatment options for every stage of testicular cancer.
