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Testicular cancer develops in one or both testicles in only young men. It is a highly treatable and usually curable type of cancer. The testicles are a pair of
male sex glands. They produce and store sperm and are the main source of testosterone. The testicles are located under the penis in a sac-like pouch called the scrotum.
Based on the characteristics of the cells in the tumor, testicular cancers are classified as:
- Seminomas and may be one of three types: classic, anaplastic, or spermatocytic
- Nonseminomas may include choriocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, teratoma, and yolk sac tumors
Testicular tumors may contain both seminoma and nonseminoma cells.
Testicular cancer accounts for only 1 percent of all cancers in men in the United States. About 8,000 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer, and about
390 men die of this disease each year. Testicular cancer occurs most often in men between the ages of 20 and 39, and is the most common form of cancer in
men between the ages of 15 and 34. It is most common in white men, especially those of Scandinavian descent. The testicular cancer rate has more than doubled
among white men in the past 40 years, but has only recently begun to increase among black men.
For information about testicular cancer:
Cancer Information Service
Patient Education :
What Men Should Know About Testicular Cancer
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