Alex Singleton, American football linebacker has undergone a surgery on Friday to have a cancerous tumor removed from one of his testicles. He told this to his teammates and coaches in an emotional team meeting on Monday morning. His family and few of his close friends, including some team officials were the only ones who knew. "Cancer is a scary word, still is, still freaks me out just saying it," he said to one of the local reporters, as reported by ESPN. How Was He Diagnosed?His diagnosis came in ways one would not expect. Before the Houston Texans game on Wednesday, Singleton, 31, was to take the league-mandated random drug test, which showed that he had elevated levels of hormone hCG in his system. He said that he knew he was not taking hCG. This is what led him to make an appointment with a urologist and then he underwent several tests. He also underwent a CT scan and ultrasound scan and received the notice last Monday that a tumor on his testicle was cancerous. After this, his surgery was scheduled. However, he told his doctors that he wanted to play in Thursday night's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. I shared this news with our team this morning. I’m grateful for everyone’s support and can’t wait to get back on the field soon! Go Broncos! pic.twitter.com/6qge5tPirn— Alex Singleton (@alexsingleton49) November 10, 2025 ]]> What Is Testicular Cancer?As per the Urology Care Foundation and the American Urological Association, testicular cancer happens when cells in the testicle grow to form a tumor. Though this is rare, more than 90% of testicular cancers begin in the germ cell, which produce sperm. There are two types of germ cell cancers (GCTs). Seminoma can grow slowly and respond very well to radiation and chemotherapy. Non-seminoma can grow more quickly and can be less responsive to those treatments. There are a few types of non-seminomas: choriocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, teratoma and yolk sac tumors.There are also rare testicular cancers that don’t form in the germ cells. What Are The Common Symptoms Of Testicular Cancer?Some of the symptoms of testicular cancer could be difficult to note at first, however, there are symptoms that one should note for:Painless lump in the testicleSwelling of testicles, with or without painDull ache or pain in the testicle, scrotum, or groinTenderness or changes in the male breast tissueThe Urology Care Foundation notes that around 75 of 100 men who have swelling or a lump in their testicles have cancer. Most masses in the scrotum outside of the testicle are not cancer, however, you must tell your doctor if you do detect a lump. The longer you wait the more chances are for the cancer to grow and spread. Who Are More Prone To Testicular Cancer?The risk of testicle cancer rises for men withFamily history: If you had someone in your family, including your father or brother with testicular cancerUndescended Testicles: If your testicles did not drop before birth. This is also called cryptorchidism, when the testicles do not drop from abdomen into the scrotum before birth as it should. About 8 out of 100 of patients get cancer like this. GCINS: These are odd cells in the testicle called germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) and they are typically found during an infertility test.Can You Check For Lumps Yourself?Yes, you can. The process is to first be relaxed, then to firmly roll each testicle between the thumb and forefingers to check for any lumps or if any of the testis feel larger than the other. See if you feel any lump or pain around the area. Make it a habit, and look for any changes in size, shape or texture.
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