This cancer is on the rise in young Hispanic men

Testicular cancer is on the rise in Hispanic men, according to research published in the journal Cancer.

The rates of testicular cancer among Hispanic men under the age of 39 have risen 3.8 percent annually over the last 10 years, despite the fact the rate has remained unchanged among non-Hispanic white men.

SEE ALSO: Dramatic increase in testicular cancer cases seen among Hispanic men

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), testicular cancer can develop in one or both testicles in men of any age, including infants and the elderly. Almost half of all cases of testicular cancer are in men between the ages of 20 and 34. Though it is not considered a common cancer, it has excellent survival rates when detected early.

The fact that a rise in this cancer has been seen among Hispanics was surprising to researchers given the fact that Hispanics are not considered the ethnicity with the highest genetic risk factors.

“The risk of testicular cancer among white men is about 4 to 5 times that of black men, and more than 3 times that of Asian American men,” indicates the ACS.  “The risk for Latinos and American Indians falls between that of Asian and white men. The reason for these differences is not known. Worldwide, the risk of developing this disease is highest among men living in the United States and Europe. It’s lowest among men living in Africa or Asia.”

Some research suggests that men who are infected with HIV are at a higher risk for testicular cancer, which may account for some of the disparity seen in the new study focused on Hispanics. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates Hispanics have an HIV infection rate three times that of non-Hispanic whites.

Researchers indicate, however, they did not delve into why the testicular cancer rate among Hispanics is rising, but were instead only able to pinpoint the trend. A trend that, if it continues, could cause testicular cancer numbers in Hispanics to surpass that of those among non-Hispanic whites.

SEE ALSO: Health effects of marijuana include increased risk of testicular cancer

“I think the most important message is that testicular cancer is common in this age group and in this population and that we need to provide early and prompt care to these patients,” Dr. Nicholas G. Cost, who was not involved in the research, told Reuters Health. “All male adolescent and young adult patients should be made aware by their primary care provider about the risks of testicular cancer, regardless of ethnicity.”

For Hispanic men, researchers saw increases in testicular cancer numbers through all age groups evaluated, while among non-Hispanic white men, a significant–but still lesser–increase was noted only among those in their 20′s and early 30′s.