What Causes Testicular Cancer?

Though the exact cause of testicular cancer is not known, there are risk factors that are connected to testicular cancer. 

Risk Factors for Testicular Cancer

Testicles that are undescended: A big risk factor connected to testicular cancer is a condition called cryptorchidism, or testicles that are undescended. Before a child is born, the testicles usually develop in the lower abdomen of the baby and eventually lower into the scrotum. In about 3% of male fetuses, the testicles do not move down into the scrotum. In some cases, the testicle/testicles will remain inside of the lower abdomen. In some other cases, the testicle begins to come down but gets stuck inside of the groin. Males who have had this condition are more at risk in getting testicular cancer. Of those who have had the same condition, most have cancer in the unaffected testicle. However, about one out of four had it in the normal testicle. As a result of this, many doctors believe that cryptorchidism is not a direct link to testicular cancer. Doctors also feel that other problems connect both the cryptorchidism and the testicular cancer.

Most testicles drop down naturally in the first twelve months. Sometimes surgery may be needed to move the testicle down. Doctors believe doing the surgery on younger children reduces the chance of getting testicular cancer, though the absolute best time remains unclear.

Heredity: It is possible that there could be a family connection to testicular cancer. Men who have testicular cancer could pass it down to his offspring through heredity or have a brother with testicular cancer. However, very few cases are found existing in families.

HIV: Men who have HIV are at a higher risk of getting testicular cancer. The risk is significantly higher for men who have AIDS. 

CIS: This is an abbreviation of carcinoma in situ. It is not very clear how often CIS found inside of the testicles develops into cancer. Sometimes it is found when men are tested for infertility. It can also be found when a man has had a testicle removed. Radiation therapy and/or surgery to remove the testicle is the treatment. Some doctors do not agree that CIS should immediately be treated. These doctors believe that they might want to wait to see if the disease gets worse or actually becomes cancer.

Cancer of the other testicle: Males who have been cured of cancer in one testicle have a risk (3 to 4 percent chance) of getting testicular cancer in the healthy testicle.

Age: Nine out of ten cases of testicular cancers happen in men between 20 and 54 years of age. This does not mean someone out of this age group will not get testicular cancer, including infants and the elderly. It is important to discover testicular cancer at an early stage for the best possible outlook at any age.

Race and Ethnicity: Caucasian males are five times more at risk of getting testicular cancer then African American males are. Compared to Asian-American and Indian-American males, Caucasian males are three times more likely to get testicular cancer. Hispanics are about midway between Asians and non-Hispanic whites when it comes to their risk.

Body size: There are some studies that connect testicular cancer to tall men, though many studies did not make any connection to the height of males.