Understanding Testicular Cancer -- Symptoms

Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, MS, DO on January 20, 2022
1 min read

The earliest warning signs of testicular cancer usually include:

  • A change in size or shape of a testicle
  • Swelling or thickening of a testicle
  • A firm, smooth, often painless, slow-growing lump or hardness in a testicle
  • A feeling of heaviness in a testicle

Other symptoms of testicular cancer may include:

  • Testicular pain
  • A sudden gathering of fluid in the scrotum
  • An abdominal mass or abdominal pain
  • Loss of weight or appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Lower back pain
  • Tenderness in the nipples or breast enlargement
  • Infertility
  • Shortness of breath or cough
  • Swollen lymph nodes, especially in the collarbone area
  • Nausea, vomiting, and constipation

You find any sort of unusual lump, nodule, pain, or swelling in either testicle. You should have a thorough physical exam as soon as possible. Remember, testicular cancer is highly curable, especially when caught early.

Show Sources

SOURCES: 

Testicular Cancer Resource Center. 

National Cancer Institute: "Testicular Cancer Treatment (PDQ)."

American Cancer Society. "Testicular Cancer."

American Medical Association: "JAMA Patient Page: Testicular Cancer."

The Mayo Clinic: "Testicular Cancer."

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