
What are the risk factors for testicular cancer?
One of the major risk factors for testicular cancer is cryptorchidism or an undescended testicle. In this condition, one or both testicles fail to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum before birth. Men with cryptorchidism have a higher risk of testicular cancer than those with normally descended testicles.
Are You at risk of getting prostate cancer?
Many people with one or more risk factors never get cancer, while others who get cancer may have had few or no known risk factors. Researchers have found several factors that might affect a man’s risk of getting prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50.
What are the chances of developing testis cancer twice?
Fortunately, only 2% of men will develop cancer in both testicles, but that risk is twelvefold higher than men without testis cancer. In addition, men who develop testis cancer in their 20s or earlier, men with seminoma and men with ITGCN have a higher risk of developing a second testis cancer.
What foods increase the risk of prostate cancer?
Men who eat a lot of red meat or high-fat foods (especially dairy products) appear to have a slightly higher chance of getting prostate cancer. These men also tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables.

What are three 3 risk factors for testicular cancer?
Risk factors for testicular cancer include:An undescended testicle.Family history of testicular cancer.HIV infection.Carcinoma in situ of the testicle.Having had testicular cancer before.Being of a certain race/ethnicity.Body size.
What are the major risk factors for developing prostate cancer?
The following factors may raise a person's risk of developing prostate cancer:Age. ... Race. ... North American or northern European location. ... Family history. ... Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome. ... Other genetic changes. ... Agent Orange exposure. ... Eating habits.
Is testicular cancer a risk factor for prostate cancer?
Link Between Testicular And Prostate Cancer Recently, studies have shown that there may be a link between the two cancers. Men who have had testicular cancer may have a higher risk to develop prostate cancer later in life. Although both cancers are highly treatable, detection remains the key to survival.
Which is a risk factor for prostate cancer quizlet?
There are three well-established risk factors for prostate cancer: Age. Family history (including genetics) Race.
What are the 5 warning signs of prostate cancer?
Check Your Prostate: Know the 5 Major Warning Signs of CancerA frequent need to urinate, especially at night, sometimes urgently.Difficulty with starting or holding back urination.Weak, dribbling, or interrupted urine flow.Painful or burning urination.Erectile dysfunction.A decrease in the amount of ejaculated fluid.More items...•
What is the most common risk factor for testicular cancer?
The most common risk factor for testis cancer is a history of cryptorchidism, otherwise known as an undescended testicle. Normally in the developing male fetus, the testicles form near the kidneys in the abdomen (belly).
What is the most common cause of testicular cancer?
Causes of testicular cancerUndescended testicles. Undescended testicles (cryptorchidism) is the most significant risk factor for testicular cancer. ... Family history. Having a close relative with a history of testicular cancer or an undescended testicle increases your risk of also developing it. ... Previous testicular cancer.
How common is prostate and testicular cancer?
Prostate cancer is much more common than testicular cancer. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that there are around 248,530 new cases of prostate cancer every year. However, there are only around 9,470 new cases of testicular cancer annually.
Which of the following risk factors doubles a man's risk of developing prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer seems to run in some families, which suggests that in some cases there may be an inherited or genetic factor. Still, most prostate cancers occur in men without a family history of it. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man's risk of developing this disease.
What reduces the risk of prostate cancer?
If you want to reduce your risk of prostate cancer, consider trying to: Choose a low-fat diet. Foods that contain fats include meats, nuts, oils and dairy products, such as milk and cheese. In some studies, men who ate the highest amount of fat each day had an increased risk of prostate cancer.
What causes prostate cancer and how can it be prevented?
Poor eating habits and diets that heavily rely on fats and animal proteins can cause DNA damage and lead to cancer. Even men who are already at greater risk due to age, race or genetics can reduce their chances of developing prostate cancer by adopting healthy diets and lifestyles.
What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?
Prostate Cancer Risk Factors. A risk factor is anything that raises your risk of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be changed. Others, like a person’s age or family history, can’t be changed. But having a risk factor, or even several, ...
How rare is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. About 6 in 10 cases of prostate cancer are found in men older than 65.
Where is prostate cancer most common?
Geography. Prostate cancer is most common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, and on Caribbean islands. It is less common in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America. The reasons for this are not clear.
Can prostate cancer cause inflammation?
Inflammation of the prostate. Some studies have suggested that prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland) may be linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, but other studies have not found such a link. Inflammation is often seen in samples of prostate tissue that also contain cancer.
Can firefighters get prostate cancer?
There is some evidence that firefighters can be exposed to chemicals that may increase their risk of prostate cancer. A few studies have suggested a possible link between exposure to Agent Orange, a chemical used widely during the Vietnam War, and the risk of prostate cancer, although not all studies have found such a link.
Can obese men get prostate cancer?
Some studies have also found that obese men may be at greater risk for having more advanced prostate cancer and of dying from prostate cancer, but not all studies have found this.
Does being overweight increase the risk of prostate cancer?
Obesity. Being obese (very overweight) does not seem to increase the overall risk of getting prostate cancer. Some studies have found that obese men have a lower risk of getting a low-grade (slower growing) form of the disease, but a higher risk of getting more aggressive (faster growing) prostate cancer.
What is the most common risk factor for testicle cancer?
Personal history. Intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN). The most common risk factor for testis cancer is a history of cryptorchidism, otherwise known as an undescended testicle. Normally in the developing male fetus, the testicles form near the kidneys in the abdomen (belly).
How much risk of testicular cancer is there for a man with a brother?
A family history of testicular cancer is another common risk factor, with an eight- to twelvefold risk if a man has a brother with testis cancer and a two- to fourfold risk if his father has testis cancer.
Can a man with seminoma get testis cancer?
In addition, men who develop testis cancer in their 20s or earlier, men with seminoma and men with ITGCN have a higher risk of developing a second testis cancer. Most testis cancer arises from the precursor lesion known as GCNIS (or germ cell neoplasia is situ, formerly known as carcinoma in situ, CIS or ITGCN).
Does orchiopexy reduce testicular cancer?
Early surgery (orchiopexy) reduces the risk of testis cancer (two- to threefold risk if the surgery is performed prior to puberty) but does not erase the chance for that boy to develop cancer later in life. A family history of testicular cancer is another common risk factor, with an eight- to twelvefold risk if a man has a brother ...
When do testicles settle in the scrotum?
About the eighth month of pregnancy, the testicles descend, exit the body and settle in the scrotum. About 3% of boys have one or both testicles that fail to make it into the scrotum. Testicles can settle in the abdomen or in the inguinal canal or groin (where the testicle exits the body wall and enters the scrotum).
Is testicular cancer heritable?
While there is not a specific gene linked to testicular cancer, the disease is highly heritable and can be passed from generation to generation. In addition, the average age at diagnosis is two to three years younger than the general population if a first-degree relative has testicular cancer.
Is GCNIS a risk factor for testicular cancer?
Therefore, GCNIS is the last well-known risk factor for testis cancer. Microlithiasis, or small calcifications (stones) in the testicle found on ultrasound, was once believed to be a risk factor for testicular cancer.
How many people have testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer occurs when cancerous cells develop in the testicles, or testes. Testicular cancer is uncommon, affecting around 1 in every 250 American men during their lifetime.
Why is testicular cancer easier to diagnose?
While a doctor can perform a physical exam to help diagnose both conditions, testicular cancer is easier to identify through self-examination than prostate cancer because it is simpler to access the testes, where the cancer typically causes detectable lumps.
What is the difference between blood test for prostate cancer and blood test for testicular cancer?
Blood tests for both cancers also check for different substances. For testicular cancer, the test check s for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), while the test for prostate cancer checks for the presence of PSA.
What is the best treatment for prostate cancer?
Surgery is the main treatment for testicular cancer, which typically involves removing the testicles. Surgery is also an option for people with prostate cancer when the tumor has not spread and the person is in good health. Other treatment options for these conditions can include radiation therapy or chemotherapy. These are useful approaches for cancers that have spread beyond their original location.
How many people die from prostate cancer each year?
Prostate cancer also causes around 34,130 deaths each year, while testicular cancer kills only around 440 people annually.
Why is it so hard to identify prostate cancer?
It is difficult to identify prostate cancer through self-examination because physical changes are hard to detect without a doctor or nurse.
Is prostate cancer a male reproductive disease?
Prostate and testicular cancer both relate to the male reproductive system. While some people may confuse them, they are separate conditions that have different risk factors, symptoms, and outcomes.
How to detect testicular cancer?
Testicular cancer screening. A self-exam is the best way to detect this cancer early. UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute doctors recommend that, beginning in their teens, men examine their testicles monthly. Knowing the normal shape, size, and weight of the testicles will help detect any changes, should any occur.
How to detect prostate cancer in bones?
Doctors inject a small amount of radioactive material that travels through the bloodstream and collects in damaged areas of the bones. A scanner can show where it collects and can help detect if prostate cancer has spread to the bones. If “hot spots” show up, other tests may be needed to rule out arthritis or other bone diseases.
How to detect cancer in teens?
A self-exam is the best way to detect this cancer early. UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute doctors recommend that, beginning in their teens, men examine their testicles monthly. Knowing the normal shape, size, and weight of the testicles will help detect any changes, should any occur. If there is a change in size or shape, or if there are small hard lumps under the skin, schedule an appointment with a doctor. Other conditions can cause swelling or lumps, but only a physician can rule out cancer.
What tests are used to diagnose genitourinary cancer?
Doctors use many tools to diagnose genitourinary cancers, including a physical exam, a digital rectal exam, blood tests, other lab tests, imaging, and biopsies. A combination of lab and imaging tests may be recommended to confirm or rule out cancer. Doctors will consider symptoms, results of a physical exam, ...
Why do doctors check PSA levels?
Doctors will review PSA levels to help determine recommendations for further testing or for treatment . Once treatment begins, PSA tests can be used to monitor how well treatment is working.
Where do they look for prostate cells?
The injected material seeks out prostate cells and sticks to them. Doctors use the test to look for prostate cells in the lymph nodes and other soft organs. Most often, doctors recommend this test for men whose PSA levels rise after treatment.
Does a PSA test increase prostate cancer risk?
While it can raise PSA levels, it does not increase the risk for developing prostate cancer. Doctors will review PSA levels to help determine recommendations for further testing or for treatment. Once treatment begins, PSA tests can be used to monitor how well treatment is working.
What are the risk factors for testicular cancer?
A risk factor is something that increases a person’s risk of cancer. Having a risk factor or multiple risk factors does not mean that a person will get cancer. Under certain circumstances, people with several risk factors do not get cancer, and some people who get it may have few or no known risk factors.
What is the toxin called that causes testicular cancer?
Toxins (A toxin called ochratoxin A causing testicular cancer is also being studied.)
How old are men when they get testicular cancer?
About half of the testicular cancers occur in men between the ages of 20 and 34 years.
Can testicular cancer affect a father?
Having a close relative, especially a father or brother with testicular cancer, may increase the risk of testicular cancer. However, only a small number of testicular cancers occur in families.
Can HIV cause testicular cancer?
Some evidence suggests that men with HIV infection, particularly those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS ), are more prone to testicular cancer. Other infections haven’t shown any evidence to cause testicular cancer.
Is testicular cancer a treatable disease?
Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers for men ages 15 to 35, but it's very treatable. WebMD explains when to see your doctor, what raises your odds of having it, and what treatments you can get.
What are the symptoms of testicular cancer?
Testicular lumps. Pain, swelling or lumps in your testicle or groin area may be a sign or symptom of testicular cancer or other medical conditions requiring treatment. Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include: A lump or enlargement in either testicle. A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. A dull ache in the abdomen or groin.
How old do you have to be to get testicular cancer?
But testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 35. Testicular cancer is highly treatable, even when cancer has spread beyond the testicle. Depending on the type and stage of testicular cancer, you may receive one of several treatments, or a combination.
Where do testicular cancer cells form?
The accumulating cells form a mass in the testicle. Nearly all testicular cancers begin in the germ cells — the cells in the testicles that produce immature sperm. What causes germ cells to become abnormal and develop into cancer isn't known.
Why do cancer cells divide?
But sometimes some cells develop abnormalities, causing this growth to get out of control — these cancer cells continue dividing even when new cells aren't needed. The accumulating cells form a mass in the testicle.
Can testicular cancer affect young men?
If family members have had testicular cancer, you may have an increased risk. Age. Testicular cancer affects teens and younger men, particularly those between ages 15 and 35. However, it can occur at any age. Race. Testicular cancer is more common in white men than in black men.
Can testicular cancer be prevented?
Prevention. There's no way to prevent testicular cancer. Some doctors recommend regular testicle self-examinations to identify testicular cancer at its earliest stage. But not all doctors agree. Discuss testicular self-examination with your doctor if you're unsure about whether it's right for you.
What are the risks of cancer?
Age, weight, exposure to carcinogens, and genetics can increase the risk of developing cancer. Learn more from this Did You Know? video produced by NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.
Can cancer be caused by a substance?
Such studies, on their own, cannot prove that a behavior or substance causes cancer.
Can cancer be avoided?
The list below includes the most-studied known or suspected risk factors for cancer. Although some of these risk factors can be avoided, others—such as growing older—cannot. Limiting your exposure to avoidable risk factors may lower your risk of developing certain cancers. Age.
Can you have cancer and another person doesn't?
It is usually not possible to know exactly why one person develops cancer and another doesn’t. But research has shown that certain risk factors may increase a person’s chances of developing cancer. (There are also factors that are linked to a lower risk of cancer. These are sometimes called protective risk factors, or just protective factors.)
Can inherited cancer cause a family history?
They also include things people cannot control, like age and family history. A family history of certain cancers can be a sign of a possible inherited cancer syndrome. (See the Hereditary Cancer Syndromes section for more information about inherited genetic mutations that can cause cancer.)

Family History
- Having a father or brother with testicular cancer increases the risk that you will get it, too. But only a small number of testicular cancers occur in families. Most men with testicular cancer do not have a family history of the disease. Klinefelter's syndrome is an inherited disease that's also lin…
HIV Infection
- Some evidence has shown that men infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), particularly those with AIDS, are at increased risk. No other infections have been shown to increase testicular cancer risk.
Carcinoma in Situ
- This condition, described in What Is Testicular Cancer? often doesn’t cause a lump in the testicles or any other symptoms. It isn’t clear how often carcinoma in situ (CIS) in the testicles progresses to cancer. In some cases, CIS is found in men who have a testicular biopsy to evaluate infertility or have a testicle removed because of cryptorchidism. Doctors in Europe are more likely than th…
Cancer in The Other Testicle
- A personal history of testicular cancer is another risk factor. About 3% or 4% of men who have been cured of cancer in one testicle will at some point develop cancer in the other testicle.
Age
- About half of testicular cancers occur in men between the ages of 20 and 34. But this cancer can affect males of any age, including infants and elderly men.
Race and Ethnicity
- The risk of testicular cancer among white men is about 4 to 5 times that of Black and Asian-American men. The risk for American Indians falls between that of Asians and whites. The reason for these differences is not known. Worldwide, the risk of developing this disease is highest among men living in the United States and Europe and lowest among men living in Africa or Asia.
Body Size
- Several studies have found that tall men have a somewhat higher risk of testicular cancer, but some other studies have not. Most studies have not found a link between testicular cancer and body weight.
Unproven Or Controversial Risk Factors
- Prior injury or trauma to the testicles and recurrent actions such as horseback riding do not appear to be related to the development of testicular cancer. Most studies have not found that strenuous physical activity increases testicular cancer risk. Being physically activehas been linked with a lower risk of several other forms of cancer as well as a lower risk of many other health pro…
Age
Race/Ethnicity
Geography
- Prostate cancer is most common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia, and on Caribbean islands. It is less common in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America. The reasons for this are not clear. More intensive screening for prostate cancer in some developed countries probably accounts for at least part of this difference, but other factors such as lifestyle …
Family History
- Prostate cancer seems to run in some families, which suggests that in some cases there may be an inherited or genetic factor. Still, most prostate cancers occur in men without a family history of it. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. (The risk is higher for men who have a brother with the disease than for those who …
Gene Changes
- Several inherited gene changes (mutations) seem to raise prostate cancer risk, but they probably account for only a small percentage of cases overall. For example: 1. Inherited mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which are linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers in some families, can also increase prostate cancer risk in men (especially mutations in BRCA2). 2…
Factors with Less Clear Effects on Prostate Cancer Risk
- Diet
The exact role of diet in prostate cancer is not clear, but several factors have been studied. Men who eat a lot of dairy productsappear to have a slightly higher chance of getting prostate cancer. Some studies have suggested that men who consume a lot of calcium(through food or supplem… - Obesity
Being obese(very overweight) does not seem to increase the overall risk of getting prostate cancer. Some studies have found that obese men have a lower risk of getting a low-grade (slower growing) form of the disease, but a higher risk of getting more aggressive (faster growing) prosta…