Testicular cancer

There were 60 cases of testicular cancer diagnosed in Northern Ireland in 2016. Testicular cancer usually affects young or middle-aged men. The earlier testicular cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat and the better chance of survival. Treatment for testicular cancer is very effective and nearly all men are cured.

Signs and Symptoms

Common symptoms can include:

  • swelling or a lump in a testicle, which is usually painless - occasionally the swelling may suddenly increase in size and become painful;
  • a dull ache or pain, or heaviness in the scrotum.

If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body, there may be some of the following symptoms:

  • Pain in the back, groin, or lower abdomen - this can be caused by the spread of the cancer to lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen.
  • A cough, breathlessness or difficulty swallowing if lymph nodes in the chest area are affected. Rarely, if the cancer has spread to the lungs, coughing and breathlessness may be the main symptoms.
  • Nipple/breast tenderness or breast swelling (gynaecomastia) - this isn’t common but can be caused by hormones produced by the cancer.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important that you see your GP.

Resources

There are a number of websites that provide information relating to testicular cancer, these include:

This is not an exhaustive list and other sources of support in Northern Ireland can also be accessed via Northern Ireland Cancer Network.

Signs and symptoms