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Testicular Cancer - What Increases Your Risk

Some things may increase your chances of getting testicular cancer. These risk factors include:

  • An undescended testicle (cryptorchidism). This is a testicle that has not moved down (descended) from the abdomen into the scrotum. Normally the testicles descend before or soon after birth. Surgery is usually done to move an undescended testicle into the scrotum. This makes it possible to check the testicle over time.
  • Klinefelter syndrome. This is a genetic disorder that affects males. Normally, males have one X and one Y chromosome. Males with Klinefelter syndrome have at least two X chromosomes and, in rare cases, as many as three or four.
  • A personal or family history of testicular cancer.

Most men who get testicular cancer don't have any known risk factors.

Recommended Related to Cancer

General Information for Childhood Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors (GCTs)

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) provides the PDQ pediatric cancer treatment information summaries as a public service to increase the availability of evidence-based cancer information to health professionals, patients, and the public. Fortunately, cancer in children and adolescents is rare, although the overall incidence of childhood cancer has been slowly increasing since 1975.[1] Children and adolescents with cancer should be referred to medical centers that have a multidisciplinary team...

Read the General Information for Childhood Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors (GCTs) article > >

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: January 13, 2011
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
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