Lumps on or near the testicle

If you are worried about lumpiness of the skin of the scrotum, look at the section on lumps on the scrotum. If you feel a lump within the scrotum, on or alongside your testicle, you must see your doctor straight away. Also see your doctor if one testicle feels enlarged and heavy, or if when you squeeze it gently it feels much firmer than the other side. In all these cases, it could be a cancer of the testicle. This is the most common type of cancer to affect young men in their 20s and 30s (but it can occur at any age). The good news is that cancer of the testicle can be completely cured in 96% of cases. The earlier it is picked up, the better.

In fact, most swellings in the scrotum turn out to be non-cancerous. For example, it is common to have small lumps and cysts in the epididymis and in the spermatic cord. Surgeons do not usually remove these non-cancerous cysts unless they are large and troublesome. It is important that all lumps in the scrotum are examined by a doctor, so even if you think the swelling is non-cancerous have it checked anyway. If your doctor is not sure, he/she will arrange for you to have an ultrasound scan (which is painless).

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