Causes Of Testicular Cancer

The exact cause of testicular cancer is unknown. There is no relationship between vasectomy and testicular cancer. Factors that may increase the risk of a man for testicular cancer include:

Abnormal testicular development

The history of testicular cancer

The history of undescended testicle

Klinefelter's syndrome

Other possible causes include exposure to certain chemicals and infection with HIV. A family history of testicular cancer may also increase the risk.

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men between 15 and 35. It can occur in older men and, rarely, in young children.

White men are more likely than African-American men and Asian-Americans to develop this type of cancer.

There are two main types of cancer: seminoma and nonseminoma tumors. These cancers develop from germ cells, the cells that produce sperm.

Seminoma: This is a slow growing form of testicular cancer in men is usually in the 30s and 40s. The cancer is usually only the testicles, but may spread to the lymph nodes. Seminomas are highly sensitive to radiotherapy.

Nonseminoma: The more common form of testicular cancer tends to grow more quickly than seminomas. Non-seminoma tumors often consist of more than one cell type, and identified according to these different types of cells:

Choriocarcinoma (rare)

Embryonal carcinoma

Teratoma

Yolk sac tumor

It is a rare type of cancer, testicular cancer. They are usually not cancerous. Two main types of stromal tumors are Leydig cell tumors and Sertoli tumors. Stromal tumors usually occur during childhood.