Patients often between 20 and 39: Men are less likely to be hospitalized for testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is the most common malignant tumor in young men. New figures from the Federal Statistical Office show that there have been successes in prevention. But there is no reason for a general all-clear.

The number of patients treated in hospital for testicular cancer has fallen by 40 percent in Germany within 20 years. This was announced by the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden on the occasion of World Men’s Day, a day of action on men’s health. While around 10,900 boys and men were treated in hospital after a testicular cancer diagnosis in 2020, 20 years earlier it was 18,100 patients.

According to the information, young and middle-aged men are particularly affected by testicular cancer. In 2020, 55 percent of patients were between 20 and 39 years old. For men in this age group, testicular cancer was actually the most common of all cancers. One in three cancer treatments (32 percent) in this age group in 2020 was due to a malignant neoplasm in the testicles.

According to the information, the fact that fewer patients with testicular cancer are treated as inpatients today is due to improved medical prevention and screening. But the declining number of younger people in the population also plays a role. The number of 20- to 39-year-old men in Germany who are more severely affected by testicular cancer has fallen by 13 percent within 20 years.

On the other hand, there was an increase in the number of deaths from testicular cancer. In 2020, 197 people died as a result of this disease. For comparison: In 2016, according to the information, the number was still 140 deaths.

Testicular cancer is hardly or not at all noticeable at the beginning. Small tumors in particular often cause little or no symptoms. Symptoms can be a slight pulling, hardening or small painless swellings on a testicle. Patients rarely report back pain. Self-examination is essential for early diagnosis. It is sufficient to take the time once a month and feel it yourself, because testicular tumors are easy to feel. Any man who notices a change in his testicles should definitely see a doctor, preferably a urologist.