Eddie Lind, a 23-year-old trader from south-east London, accidentally noticed an unusual lump on his testicle in February 2026 while drying off after a shower. The following day he went to his doctor, who referred him for an ultrasound. The scan showed that the lump could be malignant.
Lind underwent surgery to remove his testicle at St Thomas' Hospital on 27 March to prevent the spread of the disease. A biopsy after the operation confirmed the cancer diagnosis. "I first noticed the lump in mid-February, and by late March I was already preparing for surgery," Lind said. "I wasn't looking for signs of testicular cancer at all. I simply noticed something unusual one day and thought it would be foolish not to get it checked."
Recovery was initially difficult. Lind bled for several weeks and had to take antibiotics, and due to an infection and high temperature he spent a few days in hospital. He lost his hair during treatment. However, because the disease was detected early enough, he had to undergo only three weeks of chemotherapy, instead of the initially planned nine.
Lind believes that the early detection of the lump helped shorten the treatment and avoid more severe consequences of the disease. "Cancer can happen at any age," he warned. "No 23-year-old thinks they will get cancer, so it is important for young people to know that it can happen at any age." He advises others not to ignore changes they notice in their bodies and not to wait for them to disappear on their own. "It might not be anything serious, but if it is, early detection can make a big difference," he said. "It only takes ten seconds to check yourself and it is better to be safe than to regret it later." He also stressed that such changes should not be avoided in conversation, even if the topic is uncomfortable.
Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer among younger men, particularly those aged 15 to 35, but accounts for a relatively small proportion of all malignant diseases in men. Its incidence is increasing, and in Croatia around 200 new cases are recorded annually. It is one of the most curable types of cancer — if detected in time, it is curable in more than 95 per cent of cases.
Doctors emphasise the importance of seeing a doctor promptly and regular self-examination, which is recommended once a month, ideally during or after a warm shower when the skin is relaxed. Attention should be paid to a painless lump or swelling, enlargement of one testicle, changes in its firmness or a feeling of heaviness, as well as pain or discomfort in the testicle. In advanced cases, pain in the lower back or abdomen, unexplained weight loss, persistent cough or breathing difficulties may occur, but such symptoms do not necessarily mean that cancer is involved as they can be caused by other conditions. Any unusual change should be checked with a doctor.
The removal of one testicle usually does not affect normal sexual function or the production of male hormones because the remaining testicle can take over its function. Treatment can, however, affect fertility, so patients may be offered sperm storage before certain therapies to preserve the possibility of fatherhood in the future. A change on the testicle should not be ignored — even if it turns out not to be anything serious, an examination can remove doubt, and in the case of testicular cancer, early detection can significantly ease treatment.
