Prostate Cancer vs. Testicular Cancer: How They Differ

All men are at some risk for developing either prostate cancer or testicular cancer. So, if you're a man, it's important to understand the the risks each disease poses and how they differ in men who are afflicted with either prostate cancer or testicular cancer.

Prostate cancer occurs in the prostate gland, the gland that produces the fluid that makes up semen.

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According to the cancer charity No Surrender, prostate cancer is usually slow-growing and there are usually no symptoms until it becomes advanced. In fact, many men will never be aware that they have prostate cancer and instead will die of other causes.

Prostate cancer affects mostly older men, said No Surrender. The biggest risk factor for prostate cancer is advancing age, because about two-thirds of all diagnosed prostate cancers occur in men who are older than 65.

Another risk factor is race. Prostate cancer occurs about 60 percent more often in black men compared to white men.

Testicular cancer occurs in the testes, which are located in the scrotum, a loose sack of skin located underneath the penis. The testes produce male sex hormones and sperm for reproduction. While prostate cancer commonly affects older men, testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men aged 15 to 35, reported the Mayo Clinic.

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Testicular cancer  also affects white men much more often than black men.

According to WebMD, the causes of testicular cancer are not clear. There are some links between it and other health conditions that have been identified. For example, men who are born with an undescended testicle are much more likely to develop testicular cancer later in life.

There are also many genetic factors like Klinefelter’s syndrome and Down syndrome that have been associated with high risk of testicular cancer.

In addition, all men who are infertile should be checked for possible testicular cancer.

Prostate cancer and testicular cancer occur in different parts of the body, and they affect men of different ages and races in different numbers. However, both of these cancers are highly treatable and are rarely fatal as long as the cancer is detected early and has not spread to other parts of the body, said the Mayo Clinic.

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