Doctor issues testicular cancer warning to people who ‘don’t know what their baseline is’

Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.

A doctor has warned that too many men are missing the early signs of testicular cancer because they 'don’t know what their baseline is'.

Around one percent of all new cancer cases in the UK are testicular cancer, with around 2,400 new cases every year, according to Cancer Research UK.

It mostly affects males aged 30 to 34 in Britain, with around one in five of all new testicular cancer cases diagnosed in this age group.

This type of cancer is highly treatable, and over 96 percent of men with testicular cancer in the UK are cured.

That's why Dr Mark Perera, a London-based GP and men’s health lead, wants men to talk more, check themselves and look out for subtle changes.

In an interview with LADbible, the mental health advocate said one of the biggest issues is that men aren’t familiar enough with what their testicles normally feel like to notice when something’s wrong.

Dr Mark Perera is raising awareness of men's mental health (YouTube/LADbible Stories)

“A lot of men don’t know what the baseline is because they’re not like women in the shower checking their breasts,” he explained.

“Men are not doing that with their testicles. So you’ve got to know what your baseline is to know that, 'Oh, that feels a bit odd. That’s a little lump'.”

On the sort of things to look out for, Dr Perera said: “Is there a change in the anatomy? Is there a lump? Is there swelling on one side?

“Often it can be really slow growing if it’s testicular cancer, but it is a common cancer of young men, and it is one of the most treatable cancers.”

The most important thing is 'knowing what your normal is and if you feel something abnormal, letting a doctor know'.

While lumps are the most common symptom, Dr Perera explained that there are other potential warning signs 'like blood in your urine and blood in your semen'.

“But it’s mainly just looking for lumps and bumps and knowing if it’s new and how long it’s been there,” he said.

Dr Perera says men need to check themselves more (Getty Stock Images)

Dr Perera's comments come as part of his ongoing work promoting men’s health awareness through his annual testicular art exhibition, TesticulART, supported by Movember.

The free-to-enter gallery, held in the Espacio Gallery on Bethnal Green Road, displays fine art from men’s testicles. It returns for a third year from 12-18 November 2025, and tickets are available here.

TesticulART is part of a wider campaign that uses art to encourage conversation about men’s physical and mental well-being, not just at home, but also in the workplace.

The GP says 'men don’t really talk about these things, and they often don’t come to the doctor until it’s too late or until something’s seriously wrong'.

"Movember is just amazing as a charity that supports the things that I care about: physical health, mental health, and sexual health," he said.

"Those are the key advocacy aspects of this gallery as well. That's the whole point. Get people in there to talk about that stuff."

In 2023, suicide rates for males were 17.4 deaths per 100,000 and for females it was 5.7 per 100,000 (Movember)

The Movember charity, which focuses on 'prevention, early intervention and health promotion', says three out of four suicides in the UK are by men.

"The whole point of the exhibition was to get men comfortable talking about their bodies, about their health, and about things that they’d normally be embarrassed to say out loud," Dr Perera added.

"Men’s health isn’t just physical — it’s mental, it’s sexual, it’s emotional. And if we can’t talk about it, we can’t fix it."

A 2023 study published by the National Library of Medicine also states that 'healthy diet choices and regular physical exercise can dramatically delay or prevent the incidence of chronic diseases'.

Please visit the NHS website for more information on testicular cancer.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.

If you are having negative thoughts, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.