Swellings in the scrotum (the sack of skin surrounding the testicles) are quite common, especially in older men.  Most of these are not cancer, particularly if they are separate from the testicles themselves. A swelling on the testicle itself, particularly if it feels solid or hard, can often be due to a cancer of the testicle, especially in younger men. (Testicular cancer is much commoner in younger men. 90 out of every 100 men are between 15 and 40 years old when the condition is first diagnosed. Testicular cancer is rare in men over the age of 55.). Testicular cancer is one of the most curable of all cancers but like all the cancers the results are best when it is discovered early.

So if you have found a lump on one of your testicles you shouldn't ignore it or just hope it will go away, you should go and see your family doctor (GP) immediately.

Your GP will chat to you and examine you.

The Department of Health has given guidelines to family doctors (GPs) suggesting they should arrange an urgent appointment with a specialist in testicular disease (called a urologist) to check any man who has a lump in one of their testicles.

An urgent hospital appointment usually means that the specialist will see you within two weeks.

When you see the specialist they will take a full medical history and examine you. Depending on what the doctor discovers there are then likely to be some more specialised tests, which may take a week or two to complete, before they can finally make a diagnosis. These tests may include:

• blood tests
• an ultrasound scan, which uses sound waves to build up pictures of the structures of the testicles.
• a CT scan, which uses x-rays to build up a three dimensional picture of the structures in the body.

If these tests suggest there might be a cancer then the next step is usually an operation to take away the affected testicle(an orchiectomy). You may also need some chemotherapy or radiotherapy depending on the exact type of cancer that is found and whether or not it has spread anywhere else.

Although your lump may be due to something other than cancer it is very important that you see your doctor for a check up as soon as possible. If there is a cancer the earlier it is treated the better, and remember, these days the chances of a complete cure for men with testicular cancer are very good indeed.