The most common tumor to feel for is about the size of a pea, on the front side of the testicle. These lumps are usually painless. After your shower, stand naked in front of a mirror and look for any swelling in the skin of the scrotum or unusual contours in the groin. Call your doctor if you feel or see something unusual. The great majority of these cancers, however, occur in males between the ages of 20 and 44, precisely the time when a man may be most concerned about sexual fertility and planning for a family.
Most patients treated for early stage disease can retain sexual function and fertility.
The major risk factor for testicular cancer is undescended testes - that is, the testes, which are formed up in the body near the kidneys, fail to descend into the scrotum. This condition increases by five times the risk of developing testicular cancer. It can be easily corrected by surgery, however, and if done before a boy is six years old, the risk of cancer is reduced to a normal male.