Testicular cancer
On this page
- About testicular cancer
- Symptoms of testicular cancer
- Treating and managing testicular cancer
- Detecting testicular cancer
- Risk factors
- What Canada’s doing
About testicular cancer
Testicular cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow and multiply in the testicle. These cells can form a malignant (cancerous) tumour that may grow into nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body.
In Canada, it’s estimated that about 1 in 230 males (0.4%) will be diagnosed with testicular cancer in their lifetime. In 2026, an estimated 1,300 males will be diagnosed with testicular cancer and 40 are expected to die from the disease. While it’s not a common cancer overall, it’s the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males aged 15 to 35. Most testicular cancers are diagnosed before the age of 50.
Testicular cancer has a high survival rate, especially when it’s diagnosed and treated early. In Canada, the chance of surviving testicular cancer 5 years after diagnosis is about 97%.
Symptoms of testicular cancer
Testicular cancer may not cause symptoms early on. As the tumour grows, it can cause changes in the testicle or scrotum and lead to symptoms in other parts of the body.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- a buildup of fluid in the scrotum
- a change in how the testicle feels
- an increase in the size of a testicle
- a heavy feeling in the scrotum or abdomen
- a painless lump or swelling in either testicle
- a dull ache or pain in the:
- groin
- testicle
- scrotum
- lower abdomen
Treating and managing testicular cancer
Treatment plans depend on many factors. The Canadian Cancer Society has resources to help find what's best for you:
If you're supporting a friend or family member through their diagnosis, there are ways you can help:
Detecting testicular cancer
There’s no routine screening test for testicular cancer in people without symptoms. Being familiar with how your testicles normally look and feel can help you notice changes.
Talk to a health care provider if you notice any changes. They may do a physical exam or recommend other tests.
Learn more:
Risk factors
There’s no single cause of testicular cancer, but factors that may increase the risk of developing it include:
- an undescended testicle as a child
- a history of testicular cancer in the other testicle
- a family history of testicular cancer, particularly in a parent or sibling
Testicular cancer is also more common in white males than in males of other ethnicities.
Having 1 or more of these risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll develop testicular cancer. Some people develop testicular cancer without having any known risk factors.
Learn more:
What Canada's doing
At the Public Health Agency of Canada, we’re raising awareness and working to make sure you have access to:
- the latest scientific evidence
- resources to protect your health and well-being
We also monitor data from cancer and vital statistics registries to identify trends in:
- new cancer cases (incidence)
- cancer deaths (mortality)
- survival after a diagnosis
Along with our partners, we also help develop and publish reports on:
- cancer surveillance
- specific topics such as the cost of cancer and stage at diagnosis
Together, these efforts help inform and evaluate public health programs, policies and initiatives nationwide.
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research have also invested in research to prevent, detect and treat cancer more effectively.
Health Canada provides funding to the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer to lead the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control. This is Canada’s 10-year action plan to fight cancer.
Learn more:
Related links
- Canadian Partnership Against Cancer
- Testicular cancer (Canadian Cancer Society)
- Testicular cancer statistics (Canadian Cancer Society)