• Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in young men, mostly between the ages of 20 and 35, although it can develop in boys as young as 15.
  
  
• Between the ages of 15 and 50, about 1 man in every 500 will develop this problem.
  
  
• The incidence of testicular cancer has risen by 70% in the last twenty years. Doctors are baffled as to why this is.
  
  
• It is still quite rare with about 2,000 cases a year in the UK. If current trends continue, however, this figure will rise.
  
  
• In Europe the highest incidences are observed in Denmark, Ireland and Norway, and the lowest in Finland and Spain. Worldwide, Japan, India, South America also have low incidences. The cause of testicular cancer and the reasons for its different rates of occurrence in different countries is unknown.
  
  
• The most significant risk factor is un-descended testis with 10% of patients having a history of this condition.
  
  
• Testicular cancer can have a strong genetic component. First degree relatives (brothers, fathers or sons) of testicular cancer patients have up to a 10-fold increased risk of developing this disease.
  
  
• The first cancer gene implicated in testicular cancer was located by an international collaboration of scientists, including The Institute of Cancer Research, the Cancer Research Campaign and Imperial Cancer Research Fund.
  
  
• Scientists do not know what percentage of cases are caused by an inherited genetic susceptibility, but some estimates put the figure at as high as 30% of all cases.
  
  
• We know very little about the detailed or molecular mechanism of development of testicular cancer. More work is required to isolate the key cancer genes involved in this process.
  
  
• Most (more than 90%) of testicular cancers can be cured if caught at an early stage. Even when these tumours spread they can still be cured in over 80% of cases and large volume tumours can be cured in 50% of cases. Recent work from The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden Hospital on an intensive schedule has shown that with this new treatment, even in this worst group 80% of patients can now be cured.
  
  
• Testicular cancer normally presents itself as a lump in the testicle. Regular examination of the testicle can, in most instances, detect testicular cancer at an early stage but neglect can lead to presentation with advanced cancer. Detection and treatment of testicular cancer is helped by the detection of chemicals in the blood (markers) which are found in a large proportion of patients with testicular cancer.
  
  
• The Institute was responsible for the development of carboplatin, a new drug which has been successful in treating early testicular cancer. Treatment for testicular cancer may be very intensive, but most patients cured of Testicular cancer have no long-term side effects from treatment. A small proportion of patients will become infertile after chemotherapy treatment. Other side effects of treatment are uncommon but may include damage to the nerve endings, hearing, spasms in the blood vessels and possibly an increased risk of heart disease in the future. There may be a small increased risk of developing other cancers. The risks of these problems are fewer if the cancer is treated earlier.