Testicular cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that starts in the testicles. It can happen at any age, but it happens most often between the ages of 15 and 45.

Signs of a testicular tumor are:

• A painless lump in the testicle (the most common sign)
• Swelling of the testicle (with or without pain) or a feeling of weight in the scrotum
• Pain or a dull ache in the testicle, scrotum or groin (Very few men who have testicular cancer feel pain at first)
• Tenderness or changes in the male breast tissue (due to hormones release by the tumor)

See your health care provider if you detect a lump or any symptoms that last longer than two weeks.

It may not be possible to avoid risk factors for testicular cancer. The best plan is to catch it early. Men with the highest risk are does that:

• Have a history of an undescended testicle, which is called cryptorchidism: the testes form in the belly during fetal development. They typically descend into the scrotum before birth. If you have a testicle that never descended, your risk of testicular cancer is higher. The risk is increased even if you’ve had surgery to move the testicle to the scrotum as 8 out of 100 of these patients may still develop testicular cancer.

• Have a family history of testicular cancer. If testicular cancer runs in your family, you might have an increased risk.

If you fall into any of these categories, do a testicular self-exam each month. Some experts doubt the usefulness of testicular self-exams, but these checkups can help men catch testicular cancer early. Although survival rates for all stages of the disease are relatively high, patients diagnosed later often require chemotherapy, which can have unpleasant side effects and toxicities. You should perform self-exams to spot the cancer at an early stage when it can be removed with surgery alone.

Testicular Self-Exam
The best time to do a testicular self-exam is after a warm bath or shower, while standing, when the scrotum is relaxed. It only takes a few minutes. To start:

1. Check each testicle. Gently but firmly roll each testicle between the thumb and forefingers. Feel the whole surface. The firmness of the testis should be the same all around. It’s normal for one testis to be slightly larger than the other.

2. Find the epididymis and vas deferens. These are soft, tube-like structures above and behind the testicle. These tubes collect and carry sperm. Just become familiar with how these cords feel.

3. Look for lumps, swelling or things that don’t seem right. Lumps or bumps are not normal (even if they cause no pain). Pain is not normal.

If you notice a lump or any changes over time, you should seek medical help. Many men do not tell their doctor about these signs. On average, men wait for about five months before saying anything. Since the tumor can spread during that time, it is vital to reach out to a urologist if you notice any of the sings mention above.

Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/testicular-cancer-care/symptoms-causes/syc-20352986

https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/t/testicular-cancer

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/testicular-cancer/how-to-perform-a-testicular-selfexam-advice-from-urologist-nirmish-singla