About 1 in every 250 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer at some point in their lifetime. In the United States, roughly 9,500 new cases are diagnosed each year, making it relatively uncommon compared to prostate, lung, or colon cancer. But testicular cancer stands out for one reason: it overwhelmingly strikes younger men, typically between ages 15 and 44, making it one of the most common cancers in that age group.
How Common It Is by the Numbers
The incidence rate in the U.S. sits at about 6.2 cases per 100,000 men per year, based on the most recent data through 2021. That rate has been climbing steadily for decades. Back in 1992, it was 4.7 per 100,000, meaning diagnoses have increased by roughly 32% over three decades. Researchers still don’t fully understand why.
Despite rising diagnoses, testicular cancer remains highly treatable. The overall five-year survival rate is 94.6%, and when the cancer is caught before it spreads beyond the testicle, survival is even higher, approaching 99%. Fewer than 500 men die from testicular cancer in the U.S. each year.
Who Gets It: Age, Race, and Ethnicity
Testicular cancer is unusual among cancers because it peaks in young adulthood. The median age at diagnosis is 33. It can occur in teenagers and men in their 50s or older, but the vast majority of cases fall between the late teens and mid-40s. This makes it strikingly different from most other cancers, which become more common with age.
Race and ethnicity also play a role. White men have historically had the highest rates, and they still do. However, the fastest-growing group is Hispanic men, whose incidence has been climbing by an average of about 3% per year. Meanwhile, rates among white non-Hispanic men have largely stabilized. Black and Asian-American men are diagnosed at lower rates overall, though the reasons for these differences remain unclear and likely involve a mix of genetics and environmental factors.
Known Risk Factors
The single strongest known risk factor is cryptorchidism, the medical term for being born with one or both testicles that haven’t descended into the scrotum. Men with this history have roughly 3 to 8 times the risk of developing testicular cancer compared to the general population, even if the condition was surgically corrected in childhood. The wide range in that estimate depends on whether the undescended testicle was inside the abdomen (higher risk) or in the inguinal canal closer to the scrotum (lower risk).
Other factors that modestly increase risk include a family history of testicular cancer (particularly in a brother or father), a personal history of cancer in one testicle (which raises risk in the other), and certain differences in testicular development. Tall stature has been linked to slightly higher risk in large population studies, though the connection isn’t well understood. There’s no strong evidence linking testicular cancer to physical activity levels, diet, or injury.
How Rates Compare Around the World
Testicular cancer rates vary dramatically by geography. The highest incidence in the world is found in Western and Northern Europe, particularly Scandinavia and parts of Central Europe. Slovakia has one of the highest national rates at 13.2 per 100,000 men per year, more than double the U.S. rate. Australia, New Zealand, and Southern Europe also report elevated rates. In contrast, rates across most of Africa and Asia are considerably lower.
The reasons behind this geographic pattern are not fully explained by genetics alone, since rates have been shifting within populations over just a few decades, far too quickly for genetic change. Environmental exposures during fetal development, including chemicals that interfere with hormone signaling, are one hypothesis researchers continue to investigate.
What to Watch For
The most common first sign is a painless lump or swelling in one testicle. Some men notice a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum or a dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin. Pain is less common but does occur in a minority of cases. Because testicular cancer tends to grow quickly, changes often become noticeable within weeks rather than months.
Self-exams are straightforward. After a warm shower, when the skin of the scrotum is relaxed, gently roll each testicle between your fingers, feeling for any hard lumps, smooth bumps, or changes in size or shape. One testicle being slightly larger than the other is normal. A new, firm area that wasn’t there before is not. Most lumps found in the testicle turn out to be benign, but any new growth should be evaluated with an ultrasound, which is painless and gives a clear picture quickly.
Because this cancer responds so well to treatment even in later stages, the prognosis is excellent across the board. Still, earlier detection means simpler treatment and fewer side effects, so paying attention to changes matters.