Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15 through 35. Although it is the most common cancer in this age group, it accounts for only about 1 percent of all cancers in men. It is important to note that the incidence of testicular cancer is rising in the United States. A decade ago, testicular cancers were considered to be very difficult and dangerous. Many advances in treatment have resulted in earlier diagnosis and many men who are diagnosed at an early stage can expect to survive, which was not the case in the past. Testicular cancer is more common in Caucasian men. The germ cell tumor type is diagnosed in approximately 7,000 men per year, and is the most common type of testicular cancer. .

             The earliest symptom of testicular cancer is pain, swelling or a hard lump in the testicle. There may also be a combination of these symptoms. Some men complain of heaviness in the scrotum, discomfort in the lower abdomen or groin or even just a vague change in the way a testicle feels. Much more rarely, men present with tenderness in the breasts caused by unusually high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG. .

             As previously noted, testicular cancer was previously felt to have a poor prognosis. As of the date of this writing, the overall cure rate for testicular cancer, when detected early, is above 90 percent. To date, there is no obvious connection between testicular cancer and any particular habits, lifestyle or activities, so it is difficult to discern risk factors for the disease. There is a higher incidence of testicular cancer in men whose testicles did not descend normally from the abdomen into the scrotum before birth. This condition is called cryptorchidism and usually requires that surgery be performed to bring the testicle down into the scrotum. Some studies relate a higher incidence of testicular cancer in patients with HIV/AIDS, but the data is poor.