Signs & symptoms

Reviewed by our medical advisory board

The signs and symptoms of testicular cancer can also be caused by other health conditions. Many of the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer are vague and often mild. It is important to have any unusual symptoms checked by a doctor, especially if they happen frequently and last longer than 2–4 weeks.

Experiencing any of these symptoms? Don’t freak out, but get to a physician to get yourself checked out immediately. Other health problems can involve the same symptoms, but at the same time, some males get testicular cancer without showing these signs, so testing is necessary to make a diagnosis.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR ?

painless lump on the testicle – can vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters
persistent lump on the testicle that does not go away
feeling of heaviness or aching in the lower abdomen or scrotum
painful testicle
swelling of a testicle
enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen or neck

LATE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Late signs and symptoms occur as the cancer grows larger or spreads to other parts of the body, including other organs.

Back pain – if the cancer spreads to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes.
Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (ascites).
Cough with or without blood-stained sputum – if the cancer spreads to the lungs shortness of breath due to buildup of fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion).
Rare signs and symptoms.

RARE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Excessive hair growth in boys.
This can be caused by stromal tumours that grow from the Leydig cells. A stromal tumour may produce large amounts of male sex hormones that stimulate growth of facial and body hair at a very young age.
Male breast tenderness or enlargement (gynecomastia).
Certain types of germ cell tumours produce the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which stimulates breast development.
Stromal cell tumours that produce large amounts of female sex hormones cause breast growth and loss of sexual desire.

WHAT CHANGES IN THE BODY MIGHT YOU NOTICE OR FEEL IF YOU HAVE TESTIS CANCER?

The physical “signs” (what you see) and “symptoms” (what you notice or feel) depend on how far along the cancer has grown or spread before the cancer is discovered, and what part of the body has become affected.

Early on, when the tumour is still inside the testis, you may not have any symptoms or signs. Later on, you may have some aching dull pain or feeling of heaviness in the scrotal sac. You may notice a hard lump in the testis inside the scrotal sac as the tumour grows. Less common is sudden severe pain, due to twisting of the testis around the spermatic cord. The tumour may cause some irritation, resulting in tissue fluid buildup around the testis, inside the scrotal sac. Rarely, there may be bleeding inside the scrotal sac, with buildup of blood in the scrotal sac. The different types of fluid buildup would show up as a large swelling between the legs.

WHAT’S THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE?

The first sign of trouble may be the result of cancer cells which have already spread elsewhere.

Spread to the abdominal lymph glands is relatively common and may show up as a large lump felt inside the abdomen.
You may feel pressure or pain as the mass presses on other organs inside the abdomen.
You may have swollen lymph glands in the neck, near the collar bone or in the armpit areas.
You may cough, have bloody sputum and shortness of breath if the cancer has spread to your lungs.
You may have headaches, seizures or other brain disturbances if the cancer has spread to your brain.
Your breasts may be enlarged, you may have pain or swelling or there may be some milky discharge from the nipples (this is rare).
You may experience weight loss, tiredness, loss of energy and a generalized feeling of being unwell, if your cancer is more advanced.

Courtesy of Dr. Joseph Chin

have one of these symptoms?

Don’t panic, but consult your physician immediately. The same symptoms can be associated with other health issues; however, some men develop symptom-free testicular cancer. Tests are required before a diagnosis can be made.