How regularly should I go to a urologist for testicular cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 38-year-old male. I have always been terrified of testicular cancer. A few months back, I went to see a urologist for a checkup, who examined my testicles and found no anomalies. I was completely fine. I trust him, but I was wondering how often I should get myself checked? I know I can check myself, but I am always scared I might miss something, so I prefer to have it checked by a doctor. How often should I ask a doctor to check my testicles for cancer?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Testicular cancer is rare. You should not be scared of having it until you have risk factors like undescended testis, exposure to radiation, family history of testicular cancer, smoking, or HIV infection. The self-examination is sufficient, and once it has been checked by a doctor, as any mass would be felt, you can seek medical advice.

The good news is that testicular cancer is curable, and usually, the prognosis is good. The answer to your question is how often I need to see a doctor. If you have a risk factor, then once a year, if no risk factor, then only once after that self-examination and follow-up if you feel any changes.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.