The vast majority of younger men do not check for testicular cancer symptoms at least once a month and the the disease can hit those in their early 20s, according to Aviva.
The insurer’s critical illness claims statistics showed men as young as 23 have claimed for testicular cancer during the past three years.
And research by Censuswide showed while 44% of men check for symptoms of testicular cancer at least once a month, those aged 18-25 were much less likely to do so (34%).
According to Aviva claims statistics, the average age of men with testicular cancer is 40, while one in 10 were under 28 years old and half were aged under 42.
In total Aviva paid out £18.7m for testicular and prostate cancer claims to men during 2021 – the equivalent of paying out £51,284 in CI claims every day.
| Testicular Cancer claim by year | Lowest Age | Highest age | Average age | Highest sum assured |
| 2019 | 27 | 57 | 40 | £1.002m |
| 2020 | 23 | 62 | 39 | £312k |
| 2021 | 25 | 57 | 40 | £307k |
According to the NHS, symptoms of testicular cancer can include:
- A painless swelling or lump in one of the testicles, or any change in shape or texture of the testicles. The swelling or lump can be about the size of a pea but could be larger.
- An increase in the firmness of a testicle.
- A difference in appearance between one testicle and the other.
- A dull ache or sharp pain in your testicles or scrotum, which may come and go.
- A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.
Jacqueline Kerwood, claims philosophy manager at Aviva, said: “People often think that cancer is more likely to impact them in later life but as our claims data shows, that is not necessarily the case, especially where testicular cancer is concerned.
“Early detection has a significant impact on recovery and survival rates, so it is really important all men know the symptoms to look out for, carry out regular checks and seek early medical advice if they notice anything unusual.
“Critical illness and income protection can provide crucial financial support to help customers focus on treatment and recovery rather than worry about their finances, something which is particularly important as the cost of living increases.”