The testicles should feel smooth, without any lumps or bumps, and firm but not hard. You may feel a soft tube at the back of each testicle, which is called the epididymis. If you notice any changes or anything unusual about your testicles, you should see a GP.
Symptoms and Causes
Severe pain in your scrotum (the sac that holds your testicles). Bruising in your scrotum. Swelling in your scrotum. Pain and discomfort in your lower abdomen.
Calcifications: These are small structures in the testicle or along the main sperm pipeline (vas) can become hard, almost rock like. These are always painless and rarely need to be removed.
Most lumps are soft and fluid-filled and may make your scrotum look a little swollen; these are usually harmless and often go away without treatment. Some lumps are solid and may feel attached to one of your testicles. Harder lumps can be a sign of something more serious.
Most testicular lumps and swellings are caused by benign (non-cancerous) conditions, although occasionally they can be a symptom of testicular cancer. It's important to see your GP if you notice a lump or swelling in one of your testicles so they can try to identify the cause and arrange any further tests if necessary.
A painless lump or swelling on either testicle. If found early, a testicular tumor may be about the size of a pea or a marble, but it can grow much larger. Pain, discomfort, or numbness in a testicle or the scrotum, with or without swelling. Change in the way a testicle feels or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
Research has indicated that less than 4 per cent of scrotal lumps or swellings are cancerous. If you do have testicular cancer, the sooner treatment begins, the greater the likelihood that you'll be cured.
Testicular pain can be caused by sudden injury, inflammation, sexually transmitted infections or an emergency condition called testicular torsion (twisting). This condition can cause a dull ache in the scrotum, sometimes along with swelling.
Testicular cancer has a very fast onset. If not detected early, the cancerous tumors can grow rapidly, with the ability to double in size in just 10 - 30 days.
A testicular lump may feel hard to the touch and vary in size. It also may feel painful, tender or swollen.
The testicles should feel smooth, without any lumps or bumps, and firm but not hard. You may feel a soft tube at the back of each testicle, which is called the epididymis. If you notice any changes or anything unusual about your testicles, you should see a GP.
Using both hands, place your index and middle fingers under the testicle and your thumbs on top. Gently roll the testicle between your thumbs and fingers. Look and feel for any changes to your testicle.
Sudden, severe testicle pain needs immediate medical care. Contact your provider right away or go to an emergency room if: Your pain is severe or sudden. You have had an injury or trauma to the scrotum, and you still have pain or swelling after 1 hour.
A spermatocele usually causes no signs or symptoms and might remain stable in size. If it becomes large enough, however, you might feel: Pain or discomfort in the affected testicle.
Both benign and malignant masses can be rounded and mobile. Only when cancers are quite advanced are they fixed to skin or the underlying chest wall, and not moveable.
If you feel the same lumpiness in both breasts, or there isn't one lump that's firmer than the others, it's most likely your normal breast tissue. That said, if you find a lump that feels harder, in only one breast, or one that just feels different than what you usually feel, address it with your doctor.
Epididymal cyst/spermatocele
It's usually a small, painless lump in the scrotum that's not connected to the testicle. These cysts are very common, and rarely need to be treated. They are often diagnosed with an ultrasound exam of the testicle and scrotum.
For testicular cancer that has not spread beyond the testicles (stage 1), the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. For testicular cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes in the back of the abdomen, called the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, the 5-year relative survival rate is 96%.
A lump or swelling in part of one testicle is the most common symptom of a testicular cancer. It can be as small as a pea, but may be much larger. Most testicular lumps are not cancer.
A variety of conditions can cause signs and symptoms that are similar to those seen in testicular cancer. This can include testicular torsion, epididymitis, epididymoorchitis, hydrocele, varicocele, hematoma, spermatocele, and syphilitic gumma.
A cancerous lump is usually hard, not soft or squishy. And it often has angular, irregular, asymmetrical edges, as opposed to being smooth, Dr. Comander says. In order for you to feel a cancerous lump, it probably has to be rather large and closer to the surface of the skin.
Testicular lumps are most often painless, although some do cause pain. They can also be movable or immovable. Some tumors may be smaller than a pea, while others can be larger than a marble. Many of the tumors will feel hard and rock-like.