What Are the Causes of Testicular Cancer?

Testicular cancer may be present in one or both of the testicles and it is a cancer that is more commonly found in younger than in older men. Testicular cancer may start in the testicles or it may be the result of cancer spreading from other surrounding structures in the body, such as the prostate. About 1 in 300 men are affected by testicular cancer, although the death rate from this particular cancer is very low, estimated at approximately 1 in 5,000 cases.

Personal History

• While testicular cancer most often occurs in only one testicle, according to the American Cancer Society, having a personal history of the cancer in one testicle raises the risk of developing testicular cancer in the other testicle at a later date. The risk rate rises to 3 to 4 percent for men who have previously had testicular cancer. If you have a history of testicular cancer, it is very important that you conduct regular cancer self examinations to detect any unusual swelling, bumps or growths in your testicles.

Age

• According to the American Cancer Society, one of the risks for developing testicular cancer includes being between the ages of 20 and 54. Approximately 90 percent of cases of this type of cancer develop among men in this age group. As a result, it is important that men in their late teens begin monthly self examinations of their scrotum and testicles to detect any unusual swelling or changes. If a man detects bumps, growths or swelling, he should bring it to the attention of his doctor.

Undescended Testicle

• According to the American Cancer Society, one of the primary risk factors of testicular cancer is having an undescended testicle. Normally, testicles drop into the scrotum in a baby boy just before birth. However, about 3 percent of boys have a testicle that has not dropped into the scrotum. Instead it may remain in the lower abdomen or it may be lodged partway between the scrotum and the abdomen. In the majority of cases of testicular cancer, it develops in the undescended testicle. However, in about 25 percent of cases, testicular cancer will develop in the normal testicle.

HIV Infection

• Another high risk factor for developing testicular cancer for a man is being infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV is an infection in which the immune system is suppressed and does not efficiently attack infections or illnesses in the body. According to the American Cancer Society, there are no other infections that are indicators or increased risk of developing testicular cancer. For men who have developed AIDS, which is closely associated with the presence of HIV, the risk of developing testicular cancer increases.

Treatment

• According to the American Cancer Society, treatment of testicular cancer involves three options: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The first step is for the doctor to determine the degree of the cancer and determine what stage the cancer has reached, along with the size of the tumor. Surgical options include removal of the testicle entirely from the scrotum. Men who choose this option may have the opportunity to have a prosthetic testicle implanted to replace the removed one. Chemotherapy requires taking chemicals to stop the growth of the abnormal cells that make up the tumor and radiation therapy may reduce the size of the tumor. Often, chemotherapy and radiation treatments are used together.