Cancers at a glance

Click the cancer types below to view the latest key facts on trends in new cases, deaths and survival in NSW.

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In depth cancer reports

For detailed data and analysis, please see the latest cancer reports published by the Cancer Institute

Cancer in NSW: Incidence and Mortality 2008

Other cancer reports

Online cancer statistics

Run detailed and customised reports on specific cancers, with comparisons on age, genders and geography:

Online statistics module

Testicular cancer

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Testicular cancer accounts for 1 per cent of all new cancer in males in NSW and 0.0 per cent of cancer deaths in males.

At a glance

2008 statistics Men
Cases Rate Trend
New cases 212 6.2 icon-trend-static.png
Deaths 3 0.1 positive trend downwards 56.4
Relative survival
(5 year)		 96% Unchanged

icon-trend-static.png No statistically significant change.

  • Testicular cancer is the 18th most common cancer in males in NSW and 40th overall in cancer mortality
  • One in 224 males will develop testicular cancer by the age of 85
  • Overall, five-year survival is 96 per cent
  • Survival is 98.4 per cent when the disease is localised at diagnosis.

Cases refers to the number of people with the disease; Rate means cases per 100,000 people (age standardised); Trend means the change in the rate over 10 years.

Historical trends

New cases

Age-standardised incidence, NSW

testicular-incidence.png

Deaths

Age-standardised mortality, NSW

testicular-mortality.png

 

Risk factors

  • Two congenital developmental defects increase the risk:
    • cryptorchidism, in which one or both testes fail to descend into the normal position during foetal development.
    • Klinefelter's syndrome, a disease of chromosome deformity.
  • Males aged 20-35 years are at higher risk.
  • Family history presents higher risk.
  • Males who are infertile are at higher risk.

 

Prevention

There are no known ways to prevent testicular cancer. Males at higher risk (see Risk Factors) should include a testicular examination as part of a regular check up with a doctor.

Detection and screening

There is no screening method for testicular cancer. However, most cases are discovered when a man notices unusual changes to the testis or during a routine examination by a doctor.

Symptoms may include a painless lump on a testicle, pain or discomfort in the testis, noticeable changes or enlargement of the scrotum or a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum. However, these symptoms are also associated with illnesses that are not cancer.

Tests to diagnose testicular cancer may include blood marker tests, ultrasound and biopsy.

Research

Around $13 million was spent on research into urogenital cancer, including prostate and testicular cancer, in NSW between 2007 and 2009.

Data sources:

  1. Cancer In NSW, Incidence and Mortality Report 2008. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW, August 2010.
  2. Cancer Research in NSW 2007-2009. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW. March 2011.
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