Testicular cancer risk

Prevention

Preventable cases of testicular cancer are not known as it is not clearly linked to any preventable risk factors

Not well understood

Testicular cancer risk factors have not been conclusively identified, despite substantial research

The estimated lifetime risk of being diagnosed with testicular cancer is 1 in 220 (less than 1%) for males born in 1961 in the UK. [1]

These figures take account of the possibility that someone can have more than one diagnosis of testicular cancer in their lifetime ('Adjusted for Multiple Primaries' (AMP) method).[2]

See also

Lifetime risk for all cancers combined and cancers compared

Testicular cancer incidence statistics

How risk is calculated

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References

  1. Lifetime risk estimates calculated by the Cancer Intelligence Team at Cancer Research UK 2023.
  2. Sasieni PD, Shelton J, Ormiston-Smith N, et al. What is the lifetime risk of developing cancer?: The effect of adjusting for multiple primaries  Br J Cancer, 2011.105(3): p.460-5

    About this data

    Data is for UK, past and projected cancer incidence and mortality and all-cause mortality rates for those born in 1961, ICD-10 C00-C14, C30-C32.

    Calculated by the Cancer Intelligence Team at Cancer Research UK, 2023 (as yet unpublished). Lifetime risk of being diagnosed with cancer for people in the UK born in 1961. Based on method from Ahmad et al. 2015, using projected cancer incidence (using data up to 2018) calculated by the Cancer Intelligence Team at Cancer Research UK and projected all-cause mortality (using data up to 2020, with adjustment for COVID impact) calculated by Office for National Statistics. Differences from previous analyses are attributable mainly to slowing pace of improvement in life expectancy, and also to slowing/stabilising increases in cancer incidence.

    Last reviewed:

    Testicular cancer is not clearly linked to any preventable risk factors.[1,2]

    Testicular Cancer Risk Factors

      Increases risk Decreases risk
    'Sufficient' or 'convincing' evidence    
    'Limited' or 'probable' evidence
    • DDT
    • Diethylstilbestrol (exposure in utero)
    • N,N-dimethylformamide
    • Perfluorooctanoic acid
    		  
    International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classification. World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) classification does not include testicular cancer because it is not generally recognised to have a relationship to food, nutrition, and physical activity.

    See also

    Want to generate bespoke preventable cancers stats statements? Download our interactive statement generator.

    Find out more about the definitions and evidence for this data

    Learn how attributable risk is calculated

    References

    1. International Agency for Research on Cancer. List of Classifications by cancer sites with sufficient or limited evidence in humans, Volumes 1 to 122*. Accessed October 2018.
    2. World Cancer Research Fund / American Institute for Cancer Research. Continuous Update Project Findings & Reports. Accessed October 2018.
    Last reviewed:

    Testicular carcinoma in situ (CIS), also known as intratubular germ cell neoplasia (IGCN) or testicular intraepithelial neoplasia (TIN), is a precursor for testicular cancer. Around half of men with CIS will develop testicular cancer within 5 years, without treatment.[1,2]

    References

    1. Hoei-Hansen CE, Rajpert-De Meyts E, Daugaard G, et al. Carcinoma in situ testis, the progenitor of testicular germ cell tumours: a clinical review. Ann Oncol 2005 16(6):863-8.
    2. von der Maase H, Rorth M, Walbom-Jorgensen S, et al. Carcinoma in situ of contralateral testis in patients with testicular germ cell cancer: study of 27 cases in 500 patients. BMJ 1986;293:1398–1401.
    Last reviewed:

    Testicular cancer risk is around 3-4 times higher in males with cryptorchidism (also known as undescended testicle, a condition where one or both testes fails to descend into the scrotum in the first year of life), meta-analyses have shown.[1,2]

    In unilateral cryptorchidism (where only one testicle is undescended), testicular cancer risk is 6.3 times increased in the undescended testicle, and 1.7 times increased in the descended one, compared with the general population, a meta-analysis showed.[3]

    Testicular cancer risk is around 2-6 times higher in males whose cryptorchidism was surgically corrected (orchiopexy) after age 11-13 or not at all, compared with those who had the procedure at a younger age, a meta-analysis and large cohort study showed.[4,5]

    The mechanism of association between cryptorchidism and testicular cancer risk remains unclear. The difference in risk by age at surgery suggests that cryptorchidism-related events at puberty as well as those in utero are implicated.[3,4]

    Testicular cancer risk appears to be increased in males with polyorchidism (more than two testes), although this is probably closely linked with cryptorchidism.[6]

    References

    1. Lip SZ, Murchison LE, Cullis PS, et al. A meta-analysis of the risk of boys with isolated cryptorchidism developing testicular cancer in later life. Arch Dis Child 2013;98(1):20-6.
    2. Cook MB, Akre O, Forman D, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of perinatal variables in relation to the risk of testicular cancer--experiences of the son. Int J Epidemiol 2010; 39(6):1605-18.
    3. Akre O, Pettersson A, Richiardi L. Risk of contralateral testicular cancer among men with unilaterally undescended testis: a meta analysis. Int J Cancer 2009;124(3);687-9.
    4. Walsh TJ, Dall'Era MA, Croughan MS, et al. Prepubertal orchiopexy for cryptorchidism may be associated with lower risk of testicular cancer. J Urol 2007;178(4 Pt 1):1440-6.
    5. Pettersson A, Richiardi L, Nordenskjold A, et al. Age at surgery for undescended testis and risk of testicular cancer. N Engl J Med 2007; 356(18) 1835-41.
    6. Bergholz R, Wenke K. Polyorchidism: a meta-analysis. J Urol 2009;182(5):2422-7.
    Last reviewed:

    A small proportion of men with testicular cancer have a family history of the disease.[1] Testicular cancer risk is around 4-5 times higher in men whose father was diagnosed with the disease, large cohort studies have shown.[2,3] Testicular cancer risk is 8-9 times higher in men with a brother diagnosed with the disease.

    References

    1. Hemminki K, Sundquist J, Bermejo JL. How common is familial cancer? Ann Oncol. 2008 Jan;19(1):163-7.
    2. Hemminki K, Li X. Familial risk in testicular cancer as a clue to a heritable and environmental aetiology. Br J Cancer 2004; 90(9) 1765-70.
    3. Nordsborg RB, Meliker JR, Wohlfahrt J, et al. Cancer in first-degree relatives and risk of testicular cancer in Denmark. Int J Cancer 2011;129(10):2485-91.
    Last reviewed:

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