Referral to a specialist for testicular cancer

Your GP should arrange for you to see a specialist if you have symptoms that could be due to testicular cancer. Depending on your symptoms and other factors, this might be an urgent referral.

Seeing your GP

It can be hard for GPs to decide who may have cancer and who might have a more minor condition. For some symptoms, your doctor may ask you to wait to see if the symptoms get better or respond to treatment, such as antibiotics.

UK referral guidelines

There are guidelines for GPs to help them decide who needs a referral.

Some of the UK nations have targets around how quickly you’ll be seen. In England an urgent referral means that you should see a specialist within 2 weeks.

This 2 week time frame is not part of the waiting time targets for Scotland, Wales and (in general) Northern Ireland. But wherever you live, you are seen as quickly as possible.

Urgent referral to a specialist

• a non painful swelling or lump in the testicle
• a change in shape or texture of the testicle

Your GP should consider referring you for a testicular ultrasound scan if you have unexplained or continuing testicular symptoms.

If you're still worried

Sometimes you might feel that your GP is not concerned enough about your symptoms. If you think they should be more concerned, print this page and the symptoms page. Ask your GP to talk it through with you. Then you might be able to decide together whether you should see a specialist.

Go back to your GP if your symptoms continue or get worse.