Testicular Cancer
Facing testicular cancer? Don't face it alone. Hoag has the science, technologies and minimally invasive techniques you need to kick testicular cancer where it counts. Improving outcomes. Speeding recovery. Alleviating pain. Preserving sexual and urologic function. That's personalized testicular cancer care at Hoag.
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Testicular Cancer Services at Hoag
Every day, Hoag brings together nationally-renowned specialists, pioneering research and the latest technology with one goal in mind: to help patients come back strong, healthy and cancer free after a testicular cancer diagnosis. Facing testicular cancer? Don't face it alone. Trust Hoag to have your back.
What is testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer is cancer that occurs in the tissues of the testicles. In addition to making sperm, the testicles also make important male hormones, including testosterone. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in males between the age of 15 and 35, but can affect men at any age.
There are two main types of testicular cancer, and individual cases may include both types:
- Seminoma: A more slow-growing form of testicular cancer that mostly affects men in their 40s and 50s.
- Non-seminoma: A more rapidly-growing cancer of the testes, which mainly affects patients ranging in age from their late teens to early thirties. There are four subtypes of non-seminoma testicular cancers, including embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac carcinoma, teratoma and choriocarcinoma.
What are the symptoms of testicular cancer?
The symptoms of testicular cancer can be different for every patient, but common symptoms can include:
- Swelling or a lump in either testicle
- Testicular atrophy, in which one testicle shrinks in size
- Pain in your groin, lower abdomen, scrotum, one testicle or both
What are the risk factors for testicular cancer?
There are a number of factors that are believed to increase your risk of developing testicular cancers. These include:
- Age, as most cases occur in patients between 15 and 35
- Race, as testicular cancer is more common in Caucasian patients than it is in other ethnicities.
- Family history
- Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers a Hereditary Cancer Program to assess a person’s family history and any associated risk for cancer. Learn more by calling 949-764-5764.
- Having previously had testicular cancer
How can I reduce my risk of developing testicular cancer?
Though research is ongoing, there are currently no known ways to completely reduce a patient’s risk for developing testicular cancer other than removal of the testicles.
You can, however, greatly reduce your risk for a more advanced testicular cancer by catching it early through regular Testicular Self Exams (TSE). During these exams, usually performed about once per month while in the shower, carefully roll your testicles between your thumb and fingers, checking for lumps or hard nodules.
Note that at the top and back of each testicle, there’s a tube called the epididymis that stores and transports sperm. During the exam, you may feel the epididymis through the scrotum, but it is normal. It is also normal for testicles to vary slightly in size.
If you find an unexplained testicular lump, cyst or any changes, even if it’s painless, see your doctor.
Testicular cysts vs. cancer
If you find a lump, don’t automatically assume it’s cancerous. Most testicle lumps are not cancerous, and there are several types of benign lumps which can form in the scrotum, including lipomas (fatty masses) and cysts. Men with an infection of the testicle or epididymitis may also have pain and swelling. If you find a lump, stay calm and visit your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
How is testicular cancer diagnosed?
If you are experiencing any symptoms that might suggest testicular cancer or find a lump during a self exam, your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and family history. This will likely be followed by a thorough physical exam and bloodwork. Depending on the outcome of those tests, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for other tests that may include:
- An ultrasound to see inside the structures of the testes
- Imaging tests, that may include X-rays, CT scans or MRIs
- Blood tests for serum tumor markers, which are substances in the blood that are often elevated in those who may have testicular cancer.
I’ve been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Now what do I do?
After diagnosis, your doctor will talk to you about your current symptoms, discuss treatment options and potentially refer you to a specialist for more tests or surgery.
Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable cancers, and the testicular cancer survival rate is very high. Among all patients in the U.S., the testicular cancer survival rate five years after diagnosis is 95 percent. That means 95 percent of those diagnosed with testicular cancer are still alive 5 years after diagnosis.
Trust Hoag for your urologic cancer care. The Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers world-class programs for urologic cancer of all types, with multidisciplinary teams, state-of-the-art facilities and technology and the latest in cancer therapies. For the sixth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best Hospitals Rankings named Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach the highest-ranked hospital in Orange County, Calif.
Find more information about urologic cancer care at Hoag at this link. Meet Hoag’s Urologic Cancer Team.
Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigator Program
Hoag is a leader in peace of mind for cancer patients through our Clinical Nurse Navigator program. This unique program provides cancer patients and their families with access to nurses who have specialized training in specific cancers. These nurses serve primarily as facilitators and guides. By answering questions, providing support and serving as a trusted source of science-backed information at each phase of treatment, Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigators are a critical resource for patients during diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Explore Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigator program.
Staging Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancers are staged on a scale from zero to three:
- Stage 0: Cancerous cells are present, but are still contained within the testicles. also called Germ Cell Neoplasia In Situ (GCNIS).
- Stage I: Cancerous cells are still contained within the testicle, but have invaded nearby lymph tissue or blood.
- Stage II: Cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the rear of the abdomen, but other areas remain clear. In this stage, patients may have moderate or highly elevated levels of serum tumor markers.
- Stage III: Cancerous cells have spread beyond the testes to lymph nodes outside the abdomen, or to another organ.
Treatment Options
Treatment options for testicular cancer depend on many factors, including how advanced the cancer is when detected and any other health issues you may have.
Hoag offers treatments for testicular cancer that vary from patient to patient, but may include:
- Radical Orchiectomy, which is the removal of the testicle.
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection (RLND), which is the removal of the involved lymph nodes in the abdomen. This has historically been done with open surgery, but minimally invasive robotic approaches are possible here at Hoag.
Surgery and advanced treatments at Hoag
Facing surgery can be a frightening prospect, but it is a vital component in the successful treatment of many urologic cancers. The Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s medical team includes experienced, fellowship-trained urologic oncologists who utilize the latest techniques and technology in the surgical management of many different urologic cancers, including testicular cancer.
Non-surgical options
Medical management may include chemotherapy under the care of a Hoag genitourinary medical oncologist, and radiation therapies performed at Hoag’s world-class radiation oncology department utilizing the latest and most advanced technologies. Hoag was recently named a Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Center of Excellence (RTCoE) by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), a distinction held by only 17 centers in the U.S. including Stanford Health Care, Harvard Medical School and the University of California — San Francisco.
Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s Radiation Oncology Program offers personalized services to treat urologic cancers. Explore advanced treatment technologies for urologic cancers available at Hoag.
What is testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer is cancer that occurs in the tissues of the testicles. In addition to making sperm, the testicles also make important male hormones, including testosterone. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in males between the age of 15 and 35, but can affect men at any age.
There are two main types of testicular cancer, and individual cases may include both types:
- Seminoma: A more slow-growing form of testicular cancer that mostly affects men in their 40s and 50s.
- Non-seminoma: A more rapidly-growing cancer of the testes, which mainly affects patients ranging in age from their late teens to early thirties. There are four subtypes of non-seminoma testicular cancers, including embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac carcinoma, teratoma and choriocarcinoma.
What are the symptoms of testicular cancer?
The symptoms of testicular cancer can be different for every patient, but common symptoms can include:
- Swelling or a lump in either testicle
- Testicular atrophy, in which one testicle shrinks in size
- Pain in your groin, lower abdomen, scrotum, one testicle or both
What are the risk factors for testicular cancer?
There are a number of factors that are believed to increase your risk of developing testicular cancers. These include:
- Age, as most cases occur in patients between 15 and 35
- Race, as testicular cancer is more common in Caucasian patients than it is in other ethnicities.
- Family history
- Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers a Hereditary Cancer Program to assess a person’s family history and any associated risk for cancer. Learn more by calling 949-764-5764.
- Having previously had testicular cancer
How can I reduce my risk of developing testicular cancer?
Though research is ongoing, there are currently no known ways to completely reduce a patient’s risk for developing testicular cancer other than removal of the testicles.
You can, however, greatly reduce your risk for a more advanced testicular cancer by catching it early through regular Testicular Self Exams (TSE). During these exams, usually performed about once per month while in the shower, carefully roll your testicles between your thumb and fingers, checking for lumps or hard nodules.
Note that at the top and back of each testicle, there’s a tube called the epididymis that stores and transports sperm. During the exam, you may feel the epididymis through the scrotum, but it is normal. It is also normal for testicles to vary slightly in size.
If you find an unexplained testicular lump, cyst or any changes, even if it’s painless, see your doctor.
Testicular cysts vs. cancer
If you find a lump, don’t automatically assume it’s cancerous. Most testicle lumps are not cancerous, and there are several types of benign lumps which can form in the scrotum, including lipomas (fatty masses) and cysts. Men with an infection of the testicle or epididymitis may also have pain and swelling. If you find a lump, stay calm and visit your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
How is testicular cancer diagnosed?
If you are experiencing any symptoms that might suggest testicular cancer or find a lump during a self exam, your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and family history. This will likely be followed by a thorough physical exam and bloodwork. Depending on the outcome of those tests, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for other tests that may include:
- An ultrasound to see inside the structures of the testes
- Imaging tests, that may include X-rays, CT scans or MRIs
- Blood tests for serum tumor markers, which are substances in the blood that are often elevated in those who may have testicular cancer.
I’ve been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Now what do I do?
After diagnosis, your doctor will talk to you about your current symptoms, discuss treatment options and potentially refer you to a specialist for more tests or surgery.
Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable cancers, and the testicular cancer survival rate is very high. Among all patients in the U.S., the testicular cancer survival rate five years after diagnosis is 95 percent. That means 95 percent of those diagnosed with testicular cancer are still alive 5 years after diagnosis.
Trust Hoag for your urologic cancer care. The Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers world-class programs for urologic cancer of all types, with multidisciplinary teams, state-of-the-art facilities and technology and the latest in cancer therapies. For the sixth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best Hospitals Rankings named Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach the highest-ranked hospital in Orange County, Calif.
Find more information about urologic cancer care at Hoag at this link. Meet Hoag’s Urologic Cancer Team.
Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigator Program
Hoag is a leader in peace of mind for cancer patients through our Clinical Nurse Navigator program. This unique program provides cancer patients and their families with access to nurses who have specialized training in specific cancers. These nurses serve primarily as facilitators and guides. By answering questions, providing support and serving as a trusted source of science-backed information at each phase of treatment, Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigators are a critical resource for patients during diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Explore Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigator program.
Staging Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancers are staged on a scale from zero to three:
- Stage 0: Cancerous cells are present, but are still contained within the testicles. also called Germ Cell Neoplasia In Situ (GCNIS).
- Stage I: Cancerous cells are still contained within the testicle, but have invaded nearby lymph tissue or blood.
- Stage II: Cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the rear of the abdomen, but other areas remain clear. In this stage, patients may have moderate or highly elevated levels of serum tumor markers.
- Stage III: Cancerous cells have spread beyond the testes to lymph nodes outside the abdomen, or to another organ.
Treatment Options
Treatment options for testicular cancer depend on many factors, including how advanced the cancer is when detected and any other health issues you may have.
Hoag offers treatments for testicular cancer that vary from patient to patient, but may include:
- Radical Orchiectomy, which is the removal of the testicle.
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection (RLND), which is the removal of the involved lymph nodes in the abdomen. This has historically been done with open surgery, but minimally invasive robotic approaches are possible here at Hoag.
Surgery and advanced treatments at Hoag
Facing surgery can be a frightening prospect, but it is a vital component in the successful treatment of many urologic cancers. The Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s medical team includes experienced, fellowship-trained urologic oncologists who utilize the latest techniques and technology in the surgical management of many different urologic cancers, including testicular cancer.
Non-surgical options
Medical management may include chemotherapy under the care of a Hoag genitourinary medical oncologist, and radiation therapies performed at Hoag’s world-class radiation oncology department utilizing the latest and most advanced technologies. Hoag was recently named a Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Center of Excellence (RTCoE) by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), a distinction held by only 17 centers in the U.S. including Stanford Health Care, Harvard Medical School and the University of California — San Francisco.
Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s Radiation Oncology Program offers personalized services to treat urologic cancers. Explore advanced treatment technologies for urologic cancers available at Hoag.