Probability of Developing Testicular Cancer (Men)
1 in 250 (0.4%)
Lifetime probability in US
About 0.4% of men will develop testicular cancer, but it has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers at over 95%.
Testicular cancer has a lifetime risk of about 0.4% for men in the United States. Unlike most cancers, it primarily affects younger men, with the average age at diagnosis being 33. It is the most common cancer in men aged 15-35.
Risk factors include cryptorchidism (undescended testicle), family history, personal history of testicular cancer in the other testicle, HIV infection, and being of White/European descent (rates are 4-5 times higher than in Black men). The cause of most testicular cancers remains unclear.
Testicular cancer has one of the highest cure rates of any cancer, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 95%. Even for metastatic disease, the cure rate exceeds 70%, largely thanks to the effectiveness of cisplatin-based chemotherapy, developed in the late 1970s. Treatment depends on type and stage but typically involves orchiectomy (removal of the affected testicle), with surveillance, radiation, or chemotherapy as additional options. Monthly testicular self-examination is recommended for early detection.
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