Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

April is testicular cancer awareness month, a month dedicated to raising awareness about the most common cancer affecting men aged 15 to 49. Each year in the UK, around 2,400 people are diagnosed with testicular cancer, it can affect anyone who has testicles - men, transgender (trans) women and people assigned male at birth.

The most common symptom is a lump or swelling in one or both testicles, or a dull ache, pain, or heaviness in the scrotum. Other symptoms may include:

• pain in the back or lower part of the tummy

• weight loss

• a cough

• difficulty breathing or swallowing

• sore or swollen chest

These symptoms are common with other conditions so having them does not mean you have testicular cancer, but its important to get checked over by a GP.

It is important to check your testicles regularly so you know what's normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes in the size, look or feel of your testicles.

Detecting testicular cancer early may mean it is easier to treat. How serious it is can be dependent on the type of testicular cancer, how big it is and if it has spread.

Whilst anyone with testicles can get this cancer, it is not clear what the cause is. You may be more likely to get it if you have or had undescended testicles, your father or brother has had the cancer, you have suffered from this cancer preciously, you have HIV or AIDS or you are from a white British background.