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Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men 15 to 35 years old. Testicular cancer is more common in white men than in black men.

The causes of testicular cancer are not completely understood. But the following conditions increase the risk of development:

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Overview

Approximately 1.5 million new cases of cancer were expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2009,[1] and that number is expected to rise in 2010.[2] Many patients diagnosed with cancer will eventually require support from a family caregiver. In fact, family caregivers form the foundation of the health care system in the United States, supporting advances in treatment such as multimodality treatment protocols given in outpatient and home settings.[3] Definition: Who Is the Caregiver? Also...

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  • Undescended testicle. Men with undescended testicles have the highest risk for developing testicular cancer. More study is needed to determine how much, if any, the risk decreases after surgical correction and whether age at the time of surgery is a significant factor.
  • Abnormal testicular development.
  • Klinefelter syndrome.
  • Previous diagnosis of testicular cancer.

The main symptom of testicular cancer is swelling or a painless lump in the scrotum (in or on a testicle). Other symptoms include a dull ache in the belly or pelvis, pain or a feeling of heaviness in the testicles, and fluid collection (edema) in the scrotum.

Testicular cancer is treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The exact treatment depends on the type and extent of the testicular cancer. Most forms of testicular cancer are curable when detected early.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer David Messenger, MD
Last Revised March 1, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: March 01, 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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