11-year-old boy has testicular cancer, experts warn of early detection signs

On January 15, information from Hung Vuong General Hospital (Phu Tho) said that recently, doctors at this unit received a young patient with testicular cancer.

Accordingly, the 11-year-old boy was taken to the hospital by his family because he had signs of pain in his private area. After examination and necessary tests, the patient was diagnosed with metastatic testicular cancer, a serious disease that can occur at a young age.

This warns of the need to detect early symptoms of testicular cancer, especially in boys during puberty.

What is testicular cancer?

According to doctors at Hung Vuong General Hospital, testicular cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the testicles, the organ responsible for producing sperm and male sex hormones. This is a rare disease but can occur in young men, especially teenagers and adults under 40 years old. 

Testicular cancer is rare but can progress rapidly and be dangerous. Illustration photo.

Although the incidence of testicular cancer is not high, the disease can progress rapidly and become dangerous if not detected and treated promptly. When testicular cancer metastasizes, the disease can spread to other organs in the body such as the lymph nodes, lungs and liver, seriously affecting the patient's health.

Warning symptoms of testicular cancer:

- Swelling or lump in one or both testicles.

- Feeling of heaviness or pain in the scrotum area.

- Back pain or pain in the lower abdomen.

- Changes in the size or shape of the testicles.

- Persistent discomfort or pain of unknown cause.

Who is susceptible to testicular cancer?

The following factors may increase your risk of testicular cancer: 

Pathology: Undescended testicles; abnormal testicular development.

Family history: If family members have had testicular cancer, you may be at increased risk of developing the disease.

Age: Testicular cancer affects teenagers and young men, especially those between the ages of 15 and 35. However, it can occur at any age.

Ethnicity: Testicular cancer is more common in white men than black men.

Certain occupations: Miners, oil workers, and drivers are at risk of testicular cancer. 

Lifestyle habits: Men who often wear tight underwear or tight clothing also risk affecting the testicles and increasing the risk of disease.

How to prevent testicular cancer?

According to doctors at K Hospital, to prevent the risk of testicular cancer, families with new babies need to check whether their child has congenital genitourinary abnormalities. In particular, check to see if the two testicles are in the scrotum or in another location. If the testicles do not descend into the scrotum, they must have surgery to lower the testicles before the age of 4.

Along with that, all men, especially young men, must know how to self-examine their testicles. When there are abnormal signs such as one testicle being larger than the other and feeling heavy in the scrotum, stuck, or painful, they must immediately go to a medical facility with a urology department to promptly detect and treat the disease (if any).

Samuel Daniel

Update 10 February 2025