Testicular Cancer Awareness Month with MSK Direct

April 2, 2026

April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, and the NYCDCCBF is sharing resources from our partners at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) is an in-network provider for NYCDCC Welfare Fund participants with coverage through either Independence Administrators and/or UnitedHealthcare.

Testicular Cancer Risk Factors

Each year, about 9,000 Americans are diagnosed with testicular cancer, many of whom are between the ages of 15-35. While testicular cancer is not linked to any activities or lifestyles, there are two important risks that can raise your chance of getting the disease:

1) Having an undescended testicle. If you were born with a testicle that did not descend you have a greater risk of testicular cancer (even if you had surgery to fix the problem).

2) You already had testicular cancer. If you had cancer in one of your testicles, you’re more likely to get cancer in the other one.

Signs & Symptoms of Testicular Cancer

The most common signs of testicular cancer are pain, swelling, or a lump/hardness in the testicle. If you find a lump in a testicle, please see your healthcare provider right away.

Less common symptoms include:

– Pain in the lower abdomen and/or groin

– Tenderness in the breast and surrounding area

– A painless lump in the testicle

– Heaviness in the scrotum

– Back pain

These symptoms do not always mean you have cancer. See your healthcare provider if you have any of them. It’s important to find the cancer early, so it’s easier to treat.

Additional Resources from MSK

You can learn more about testicular cancer on MSK’s website: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/testicular-germ-cell-tumors

Reminder: the NYCDCC Welfare Fund has a partnership with MSK Direct to provide members and their families the highest-quality cancer programs and services, virtually or in-person, to help navigate your unique journey of screening and prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and life beyond cancer.

If you or a family member are impacted by cancer and would like to discuss treatment options at MSK, call the dedicated MSK Direct phone line for NYCDCC participants and dependents at (844) 386-3368 or visit www.mskcc.org/nycdcc