While not common, testicular cancer is very serious and has very personal ramifications for men who are diagnosed with it.
Statistically, one out of every 263 males will be diagnosed with testicular cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. This year, an estimated 8,850 new cases will be diagnosed and 410 men will die of the disease.
Testicular cancer is largely a disease of young and middle aged men. The average age at diagnosis is 33. Still, about 7% of cases are diagnosed among children and teens and about 7% of cases are diagnosed among men over age 55.
Fortunately, testicular cancer has a very successful treatment track record, so a man’s lifetime risk of dying from this disease is 1 in 5,000.
Most of the time, testicular cancer is caught at an early stage, usually because symptoms lead men to seek medial attention. Most often, a lump found on a testicle, or a swollen or larger than normal testicle will lead men to seek treatment.
The American Cancer Society advises mean to be aware of their bodies and to see a doctor right away if they find a lump on a testicle. Regular testicular self-exams have not been studied enough for the Society to make recommendations about self-exam, but some doctors recommend that men perform a self-exam monthly after they reach puberty.
For information on how to properly conduct a testicular self-exam and to learn more about risks, treatment and more, visit www.cancer.org.