Is a Testicular Lump a Sign of Cancer?

This page is for anyone who has found a lump or change in a testicle. It explains which symptoms are emergencies, what a lump usually turns out to be, and what tests to expect.

Search results mix these up constantly, so it helps to separate them at the start.

A lump you can feel, with no pain, is a reason to call your primary care doctor. MedlinePlus, the US National Library of Medicine's health site, says to contact your provider right away if you feel a lump in the scrotum.

Sudden severe pain in one testicle is not a reason to wait for an appointment. Go to the emergency room (ER) now, or call 911. Those are different problems with different causes, and treating one like the other wastes time in both directions.

The NHS (the UK's National Health Service) lists these as emergencies. In the US, that means going to the ER now, or calling 911, if you have:

• sudden, severe pain in a testicle.
• testicle pain along with feeling sick, being sick, or pain in your tummy.
• testicle pain that has lasted more than an hour, or continues when you are resting.

It says these can be signs of a serious problem that needs hospital treatment as soon as possible. The usual concern is torsion, a twist that cuts off the blood supply. MedlinePlus says surgery within 6 hours can save most of the testicle. It suggests the ER rather than urgent care, in case surgery is needed right away.

The NHS adds a practical note: do not drive yourself to the ER. Ask someone to drive you, or call 911 for an ambulance, and bring any medicines you take.

For everything that is not sudden pain, the NHS list is a see-a-doctor list. In the US, that means calling your primary care doctor:

• a lump in your testicles.
• swollen testicles.
• a change in the shape of your testicles.
• a change in the way your testicles feel.
• one testicle that has become bigger than the other.
• aching or discomfort that does not go away.

Its framing is worth repeating. Lumps and swellings are not usually caused by anything serious, but you should always get them checked. It also warns against trying to self-diagnose the cause.

The NHS names two straight away:

• a build-up of fluid, called a cyst or hydrocele
• swollen veins in the testicles, called a varicocele A varicocele often feels like a small bag of worms and can ache more when standing.

Add infection and inflammation behind the testicle, an old sports knock, and a hernia in the groin. Many need no treatment at all. The NHS says you might not need any if the lump is not causing problems and is not getting worse.

NCI lists these symptoms, and says they may be caused by testicular cancer or by other conditions:

• a painless lump or swelling in either testicle.
• a change in how the testicle feels.
• a dull ache in the lower abdomen or the groin.
• a sudden build-up of fluid in the scrotum.
• pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum.

Pain is on that list, but painless is the classic. A firm lump that does not hurt is not reassuring, and that is the single most useful thing to know here.

The NHS says a doctor may look at and feel your testicles, shine a flashlight through the scrotum to check for a fluid build-up, and refer you for an ultrasound scan.

An ultrasound is quick and painless. It uses gel and a handheld probe, with no needles. It shows whether a lump is solid or fluid, which answers most of the question in one appointment.

Between now and then, checking the same spot twenty times a day will not add information. Learn what is normal for you, including the soft cord behind each testicle that gets mistaken for a lump. How Cancer Is Diagnosed explains what follows if the scan finds something solid.

• NHS — Testicle lumps and swellings
• National Cancer Institute — Testicular Cancer Symptoms
• NHS — Lumps
• MedlinePlus — Testicle pain
• MedlinePlus — Testicular torsion