Testicular cancer: The men most at risk
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among UK men aged 25-49, most commonly affecting those between the ages of 15-45.
Around 2,400 men are diagnosed every year in the UK, with around 47% of those being under the age of 35.
There are several factors that can increase your risk of getting testicular cancer, so it’s important to make sure that you’re aware of these.
Your risk of developing testicular cancer
Unlike many cancers, there are strong risk factors which can mean certain men are more likely to develop the disease.
The main factor known to increase the risk of testicular cancer is being born with undescended testicles. Around 3-5% of boys are born with their testicles inside their abdomen and, although this can be corrected with surgery, men who suffer from this condition are three times more likely to develop the disease.
Previously being diagnosed with testicular cancer is another important risk factor. Men who have been previously diagnosed are between 12 and 18 times more likely to develop the disease in the other testicle, so it’s important that men keep a close eye on the signs of this for between five and 10 years after the initial diagnosis.
A family history of the disease is also a major risk factor when it comes to men developing testicular cancer. NHS advice states that males with a father who has suffered from testicular cancer are around four times more likely to develop the disease. This statistic increases the higher the number of affected relatives is. Men with a brother who has been diagnosed with testicular cancer are then eight times more likely to develop the disease than those without.
According to Cancer Research UK, men with fertility problems are also at greater risk of developing testicular cancer. However, the reason for the link between fertility and testicular cancer remains unknown.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis for testicular cancer starts at home with a self-examination. Finding a lump, a painless swelling or change in shape of your testicles is potential cause for concern. After this, it’s important to visit your GP, where a physical examination will take place.
If your doctor agrees that you’ve potentially found signs of the disease, they will then likely refer you for an ultrasound or MRI scan and blood tests. But the only way to receive a definitive diagnosis is for doctors to examine part of the lump under a microscope.
According to Cancer Research UK, the urgent referral ‘two-week wait’ to see a specialist is the most common route to diagnosing testicular cancer, with almost six in 10 cases in the UK being diagnosed this way.
Like with many cancers, survival rates of testicular cancer are strongly related to the stage at which the disease is diagnosed. The survival rates for this male cancer are consistently improving, with 98% of men being diagnosed in the UK surviving the disease for 10 years or more.
However, if you have had a misdiagnosis or delayed testicular cancer diagnosis, you could be able to make a claim for compensation for the medical negligence you have suffered. To find out how First4Lawyers could help you through the process, just give us a call, request a call back or start your claim online.
