Testicular Cancer

Cancer starts when cells in the body change (mutate) and grow out of control. Your body is made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Normal cells grow when your body needs them and die when your body does not need them any longer.

Cancer is made up of abnormal cells that grow even though your body doesn’t need them. In most cancers, the abnormal cells grow to form a lump or mass called a tumor. If cancer cells are in the body long enough, they can grow into (invade) nearby areas. They can even spread to other parts of the body (metastasize).

What is testicular cancer?

Cancer that starts in the cells that make up a testicle is called testicular cancer. It’s one of the most curable forms of cancer.

Understanding the testicles

The testicles are the male sex glands and are part of the male reproductive system. Testicles are also called testes or gonads. They’re behind and below the penis in a pouch of skin called the scrotum.

The testicles make sperm. Sperm are the male cells needed to fertilize a female egg cell and make a baby. The testicles also make male hormones, including testosterone. These hormones control the development of the reproductive organs. They also control other things, like body and facial hair and a lower voice.

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