Can Testicular Cancer Be Prevented?
Many men with testicular cancer have no known risk factors. And some of the known risk factors, such as undescended testicles, White race, and a family history of the disease, can’t be changed. For these reasons, it's not possible to prevent most cases of this disease at this time.
Experts recommend correcting cryptorchidism in boys for several reasons (such as preserving fertility and body image), but it’s not clear how much this changes the child’s risk for testicular cancer.
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- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
McGlynn KA, Trabert B. Adolescent and adult risk factors for testicular cancer. Nat Rev Urol. 2012 Apr 17;9(6):339-49.
Yazici S, Del Biondo D, Napodano G, Grillo M, Calace FP, Prezioso D, Crocetto F, Barone B. Risk Factors for Testicular Cancer: Environment, Genes and Infections-Is It All? Medicina (Kaunas). 2023 Apr 7;59(4):724.
Last Revised: August 10, 2025
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