What are the types of testicular cancer?
More than nine out of 10 testicular cancers start in the germ cells, which are the sperm-producing cells in the testicles. There are two main types of germ cell cancers: • Seminomas are slow-growing and tend to stay localized in the testicle for long periods. They often respond better to treatment than nonseminomas. Men with seminomas are often in their thirties or forties. • Nonseminomas usually grow and spread faster than seminomas. They tend to occur in younger men, those who are in their late teens to thirties. What are the risk factors? Experts don’t know exactly what causes testicular cancer. But research has shown that some things can make a man more likely to get it. Things that increase the risk of getting a disease are called risk factors. Known risk factors for testicular cancer include: • Undescended testicle (cryptorchidism). This is the main risk factor for testicular cancer. About one in 10 cases of testicular cancer occurs in men who have an undescended testicle. A man¿
