Testicular cancer is relatively uncommon compared to other cancers, but it is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in young men. The incidence rate in the United States is about 6.2 per 100,000 men per year, and a man’s lifetime risk of dying from it is roughly 1 in 5,000. About 630 men in the U.S. die from it annually.
Incidence by the Numbers
The age-standardized incidence rate of testicular cancer rose from 4.71 per 100,000 men in 1992 to 6.22 per 100,000 in 2021. That’s a meaningful increase over three decades, though the absolute numbers remain small relative to cancers like prostate, lung, or colon. The death rate has stayed low at 0.3 per 100,000 men per year, reflecting how treatable this cancer is even when caught at later stages.
To put this in perspective: testicular cancer accounts for only about 1% of all cancers in men. But among men aged 15 to 35, it is one of the most common solid tumors. If you’re a young man and you’ve noticed a lump or swelling, the odds still favor a benign cause, but testicular cancer is squarely in the differential for that age group in a way it isn’t for older men.
Who Gets It and at What Age
Testicular cancer overwhelmingly affects younger men. The peak risk window is roughly ages 20 to 34, with a secondary smaller peak in men over 55. The median age at diagnosis is significantly younger than for nearly every other cancer, which is why it gets attention despite its low overall numbers.
Race and ethnicity play a role. White men have historically had the highest rates, but that picture is shifting. According to the National Cancer Institute, the fastest-rising incidence is among Hispanic men, whose rate has climbed by an average of 3.03% per year. Rates among non-Hispanic white men have largely stabilized. Black and Asian men have lower rates overall, though the reasons behind these differences aren’t fully understood.
Globally, northern Europe has the highest testicular cancer rates in the world, with Norway and Denmark at the top. The reasons likely involve a mix of genetics and environmental exposures during fetal development, though no single factor has been pinpointed to explain the geographic pattern.
Known Risk Factors
The strongest established risk factor is cryptorchidism, a condition where one or both testicles don’t descend into the scrotum before birth. Men born with an undescended testicle have a four- to sixfold increased risk of developing cancer in that testicle. Even the normally descended testicle carries a slightly elevated risk (less than twofold). If surgical correction is performed before puberty, the risk drops to about two to three times the baseline, which is a significant improvement but not a return to normal.
Other factors that modestly raise risk include a family history of testicular cancer (especially in a brother), a personal history of cancer in the other testicle, and certain differences in sexual development. Height has also been linked to slightly higher risk in large studies, possibly reflecting hormonal influences during growth. There are no strong lifestyle-related risk factors. Unlike many cancers, testicular cancer isn’t clearly tied to smoking, diet, or physical activity.
Why the Rates Are Rising
The steady climb in incidence over the past 30 years is real, not just an artifact of better detection. Improved imaging and awareness may account for some of the increase, but researchers believe environmental or developmental factors are involved, particularly exposures during pregnancy that affect how fetal germ cells develop. Chemicals that disrupt hormone signaling, sometimes called endocrine disruptors, are one area of active investigation. The rising rates among Hispanic men suggest that shifts in environmental exposure or other population-level changes are at work, though the specific drivers remain unclear.
Survival Rates and Prognosis
Despite rising incidence, testicular cancer remains one of the most curable cancers. The overall five-year survival rate exceeds 95%. When caught while still confined to the testicle (localized stage), survival approaches 99%. Even when the cancer has spread to distant sites, outcomes are far better than for most other cancers that have metastasized, particularly for the most common subtypes.
The death rate of 0.3 per 100,000 men has stayed remarkably flat even as diagnoses have increased, which speaks to how effective treatment has become. The 1-in-5,000 lifetime risk of dying from testicular cancer is extraordinarily low. For context, the lifetime risk of dying from prostate cancer is roughly 1 in 40.
What a Diagnosis Typically Looks Like
Most testicular cancers are discovered by the patient or a partner noticing a painless lump or swelling in one testicle. Less commonly, a dull ache in the groin or lower abdomen is the first sign. Pain is present in some cases but is not the norm. An ultrasound is usually the first imaging step, followed by blood tests that check for tumor markers.
If cancer is confirmed, the affected testicle is removed surgically. For many men with early-stage disease, that procedure alone may be sufficient, followed by close monitoring. More advanced cases may require additional treatment, but even then, cure rates remain high. Most men return to normal activity within a few weeks of surgery, and the remaining testicle typically produces enough hormones and sperm for normal function.