Testicular Cancer Prevention

Researchers are still working to better understand what causes testicular cancer and develop testicular cancer prevention guidelines. In the meantime, the best testicular cancer prevention strategy is to familiarize yourself with the risk factors and testicular cancer symptoms, and alert your doctor to any changes in your testicles.

It’s not exactly clear what causes testicular cancer, although researchers are learning more about this form of cancer each day. As with other types of cancer, testicular cancer develops when abnormal cells grow out of control. This is generally caused by changes to cell DNA, also called genetic mutations. Some mutations are inherited, meaning they run in families. Having a certain inheritable genetic mutation can increase a person’s risk for developing testicular cancer. However, only a very small percentage of testicular cancers are due to hereditary risk factors. Most testicular cancers occur in people with no family history of the disease.

The following testicular cancer risk factors can affect your chances of developing the disease.

• Age. The majority of testicular cancers are diagnosed in men between ages 15 and 44, however males of any age can develop testicular cancer, even young children.
• Undescended testicle at birth. Males born with cryptorchidism, also called undescended testicle, have a much higher risk of testicular cancer than males whose testicles descend normally before birth. It is unclear if surgical correction of cryptorchidism affects risk of testicular cancer.
• Family history. Men whose father or brother have been diagnosed with testicular cancer are at increased risk for the disease, although the vast majority of testicular cancers occur in males with no family history of the disease.
• HIV infection. Males who have been infected with HIV, particularly if it has progressed to AIDS, have an increased risk for testicular cancer.

While we don’t know exactly what causes testicular cancer and therefore can’t make specific suggestions on how to prevent it, it’s always a good idea to take steps to lower your overall risk of cancer through lifestyle modification. The following guidelines may be important for testicular cancer prevention: 

• Don’t use any tobacco products
• Don’t drink alcohol
• Maintain a body mass index below 25
• Be physically active every day
• Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in processed meats