There are nearly 140,000 survivors of testicular cancer in the United States. At Beaumont, highly skilled medical professionals use the latest technological advances to determine the diagnosis and deliver the best care for each patient.
Cancer that develops in a testicle is called testicular cancer and it is one of the most curable forms of cancer.
When testicular cancer spreads, the cancer cells are carried by blood or by lymph, an almost colorless fluid produced by tissues all over the body. The fluid passes through lymph nodes, which filter out bacteria and other abnormal substances such as cancer cells.
The exact cause of testicular cancer is not known. However, there are a number of factors that increase the risk for the disease.
What are the risk factors for testicular cancer?
The exact cause of this disease is unknown. However, research does show that some men are more likely than others to develop testicular cancer. Possible risk factors include the following:
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age - testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in young men between the ages of 20 and 54
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cryptorchidism - undescended testicle(s) is the main risk factor for this cancer
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Klinefelter's syndrome - a sex chromosome disorder
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family history
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personal history of cancer in the other testicle
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race and ethnicity - the rate of testicular cancer is higher in Caucasians than in other populations
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HIV infection
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men whose mother took a hormone called DES (diethylstilbestrol) during pregnancy to prevent miscarriage