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Knowledge is power.

Knowing your genetic risk for testicular cancer is knowing more about your overall risk.

deCODEme uses your DNA to provide you with a personalized risk assessment for developing Testicular Cancer.

Knowing your genetic risk for testicular cancer can empower your preventive efforts

Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy of young males

Although a relatively rare form of cancer, testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men between the ages of 20 and 34. Based on cancer statistics from 2004-2006, the lifetime risk of developing testicular cancer is 0.37%. In other words, 1 in 270 men are expected to be diagnosed with testicular cancer at some time during their lifetime.

The risk of dying from testicular cancer is generally very low, because it is most often detected early enough to be treated successfully.

Assess your risk factors for testicular cancer

The only well-established risk factors for testicular cancer are listed below. However, bear in mind that some men diagnosed with testicular cancer may not have any of these risk factors:

• Family history of testicular cancer has long been recognized as a significant risk factor. It is still the strongest known risk factor for testicular germ cell tumors. Genetic effects have been estimated to account for about 25% of susceptibility to testicular cancer (see Czene at el, 2002), putting it in third place with regard to heritability among all cancers. Having a brother with a testicular germ cell tumor increases a man´s risk 10 to 13-fold. This is higher than for any other cancer. Having a father with testicular cancer increases the risk 4-fold. Twin data also show a greatly increased risk between both dizygotic. (35-fold) and monozygotic (75-fold) twins. In spite of this considerable familial risk of testicular cancer, there has been little progress in the identification of specific genetic risk factors for this type of cancer – until the recent discovery of the genetic variants used in the deCODEme genetic test.
• A history of an undescended testicle, also known as cryptorchidism, is a significant risk factor for testicular cancer. The testicles normally develop within the abdomen of the male fetus and descend into the scrotum before birth. Testicles that do not do so within a year after birth are considered to increase the risk of later developing testicular cancer, regardless of whether they are brought down into the scrotum by means of surgery. About 10% of testicular cancer cases occur in men who have had this problem. Studies have found that the risk of testicular cancer increases with the age at which this surgery is performed.
• European ancestry. Testicular cancer is more common in some ethnic and social groups than others. In the U.S. for example, men of European ancestry are about five times more likely than men of African American descent to develop testicular cancer, and their risk is more than three times that of Asian American and American Indian men (according to SEER statistics). However, ethnic differences do not tell the whole story. Even among males of European descent, surprising differences have been found in the incidence of testicular cancer. Within Scandinavia, for example, the incidence rates were considerably higher in Denmark than in Finland (according to a studies by Huyghe et al, in 2003 and 2007).
• Age. Although testicular cancer may occur at any age, it mostly affects boys in their teens and younger men, particularly those between ages 15 and 34.
• Previous testicular cancer. Men who have already had testicular cancer have a higher risk of developing a tumor in the other testicle.

Researchers continue to study potential risk factors for testicular cancer.

In light of the increasing incidence of testicular cancer worldwide, scientists are especially interested in improving their understanding of the interaction between environmental and genetic determinants of testicular cancer.

More information

For more information about the risk factors for testicular cancer, talk to your doctor or visit the following websites:

• What are the risk factors for testicular cancer? – The American Cancer Society
• Testicular Cancer – Questions and Answers – National Cancer Institute

This content was last reviewed on February 09, 2010.

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