Free Guide to Testicular Cancer Self-Checks

What Is Testicular Cancer and Why Self-Checks Matter

Testicular cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the testicles, which are the male reproductive glands located in the scrotum. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 250 men will develop testicular cancer at some point in their lives. In 2024, approximately 9,710 new cases of testicular cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States, with about 410 deaths from the disease. While these numbers might sound concerning, testicular cancer is actually one of the most treatable cancers, especially when detected early.

The reason self-checks are important relates directly to the nature of how testicular cancer develops and spreads. Many cases of testicular cancer are discovered by men who notice changes in their testicles during bathing or by accident. Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes and survival rates. According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate for testicular cancer is approximately 95%, but this rate is even higher—around 99%—when the cancer is caught before it spreads beyond the testicles.

Testicular cancer most commonly occurs in men between ages 15 and 35, though it can happen at any age. Men with a family history of testicular cancer, those with undescended testicles, or those with certain genetic conditions may face higher risk. However, many men who develop testicular cancer have no known risk factors, which is why regular self-awareness is valuable for all men.

Understanding what testicular cancer is helps you understand why noticing changes in your testicles matters. The testicles produce testosterone and sperm. When cells in the testicle begin to grow abnormally, they can form a tumor. There are different types of testicular cancer—the most common being germ cell tumors, which account for about 95% of cases. These include seminomas and non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. Other less common types include stromal cell tumors.

Practical Takeaway: Testicular cancer is treatable, especially when caught early. Knowing basic facts about the disease helps you understand why regular self-checks and awareness of changes in your body are reasonable preventive steps. Men of all ages can benefit from understanding their bodies and noticing when something feels different than usual.

How to Perform a Testicular Self-Check

Learning how to perform a testicular self-check is straightforward and takes only a few minutes. The best time to do a self-check is during or after a warm shower or bath, when the skin of the scrotum is relaxed and warm. Warmth helps the skin become loose, making it easier to feel the testicles and notice any unusual lumps or changes.

Begin by standing in front of a mirror. Look at your scrotum for any visible swelling or changes in appearance. Then, gently examine each testicle with both hands. Use your thumbs on top and your fingers underneath to feel the entire surface. Roll each testicle gently between your fingers and thumbs. The testicles should feel round or slightly oval, smooth, and firm but not hard. They should feel somewhat like a hard-boiled egg without the shell.

It's normal for one testicle to be slightly larger than the other or to hang lower. The epididymis, a tube-like structure on the back and top of each testicle that stores sperm, may feel a bit bumpy or lumpy—this is normal. You're looking for new lumps or hard areas that feel different from your normal testicle tissue. You might also notice a feeling of heaviness, aching in the lower belly or groin, or a sensation that one testicle is enlarging or becoming firmer than before.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, men should perform self-checks once a month. Some men choose to do them on a specific date each month to create a routine. Familiarity with how your testicles normally feel is the goal. Changes might include a lump or hard spot, swelling, a dull ache in the groin or lower abdomen, a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum, or fluid collection in the scrotum. Some men also notice tenderness or enlargement of breast tissue, though this can occur for other reasons.

If you find something that feels unusual, it doesn't automatically mean cancer. Many non-cancerous conditions affect the testicles, including infections, fluid buildup, and other benign growths. However, any new lump, enlargement, or change that persists for more than a couple of weeks should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Don't wait or assume it will go away on its own.

Practical Takeaway: Perform self-checks monthly during or after a warm shower. Understand what your testicles normally feel like, then watch for new lumps, enlargement, swelling, or other changes. Contact a doctor if you notice anything unusual that lasts more than a couple of weeks.

What Changes to Look For and Report

Knowing what changes matter is essential for effective self-monitoring. The primary sign of testicular cancer is a lump or mass in the testicle. This lump might be very small—sometimes only the size of a pea—or it might be larger. Not all lumps hurt, and many men with testicular cancer report feeling no pain. This is one reason why regular checks are important; a painless lump could still be cancer.

Beyond lumps, other changes to notice include swelling of one or both testicles. The swelling might be noticeable to you before anyone else sees it. Some men report that a testicle becomes noticeably firmer or harder than it was before, or that one testicle becomes significantly larger than the other beyond what's normal for them. A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum or lower abdomen is another change some men experience. You might describe this as an aching sensation or a dragging feeling.

Fluid collection in the scrotum, called hydrocele, can occur with or without cancer, but sudden new fluid collection should be checked. Some men notice a change in their breast tissue—either swelling, tenderness, or a small lump in the chest. This occurs in some cases because testicular cancer can produce hormones that affect breast tissue. Lower abdominal pain or ache in the groin area might develop. Back pain can occasionally occur if cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen, though this is less common in early-stage disease.

The Mayo Clinic notes that about 10% of men with testicular cancer have no symptoms and discover the cancer incidentally during imaging for another reason. This reinforces why regular self-checks create a baseline of what's normal for your body. Changes might develop over weeks or months. Some men say they felt something was "different" or "not right" even before they found a specific lump—trust your awareness of your own body.

It's also important to know what does NOT typically warrant concern. Tender testicles from recent minor injury, temporary swelling from infection or inflammation that resolves, the bumpy epididymis on the back of the testicle, and slight size differences between testicles are generally normal variations. However, if tenderness or swelling persists beyond a week or two, medical evaluation is reasonable.

Practical Takeaway: Watch for new lumps (the most common sign), swelling, increased firmness, heaviness, fluid buildup, breast changes, or persistent pain. New or persistent changes lasting more than a couple of weeks warrant a conversation with a healthcare provider, even if the change doesn't hurt.

When to See a Doctor and What to Expect

Determining when to contact a healthcare provider is an important decision. If you discover a lump, swelling, or other change during self-check that feels new or different from your baseline, schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor or a urologist. A urologist is a doctor who specializes in the urinary and reproductive systems. You don't need to wait for symptoms to worsen or for changes to hurt before getting checked. If a change has been present for more than two weeks, that's a reasonable timeframe to seek evaluation.

When you see your doctor, describe what you noticed, when you noticed it, and whether anything has changed since you first found it. Bring any medical history that might be relevant, such as family history of testicular cancer, previous testicular problems, or an undescended testicle. Your doctor will perform a physical examination