I have recently been reading about testicular cancer as one of my testicles feels weird at times. Just has a feeling, not pain, just a feeling. Its slightly bigger than my other, and hangs slightly lower.
I have done the self examinations, and both seem smooth all over, apart from the tube which runs ub the back, and seems to have a large connecting bit at the top of each testicle. The one on the testicle in question, the bigger one, has a bigger tube and at the top it is quite big. I can feel the tube on the other testical, but its not as big. Is this normal?

I also get random pains in my sides, and sometimes get pain when urinating. I have been to the doctors about five times, had urine tests etc etc and he felt my sides/back and said I was fine. All urine tests came back clear.

I have also just done exams, and I get random pains in my sides and back, and I keep having this feeling in my testicle. I keep looking at it to see if there are any signs of lumps but its never the case.

I think its all in my mind now, as I am always thinking about it maybe I am imagining all these pains with the stress of exams and worry about my testicles... its not real pain in my sides/back/lower abdomen, just random little pains, or aches....

I think all this reading about cancer has scared me, what do you think

Maybe you just need a good lay. That helps.

G

Here's the deal: testicular cancer almost always manifests itself as hard pea sized bumps on the SURFACE of the testicle itself. If yours are smooth, as you say they are, then they're probably cancer free.

Now, as for what's causing your discomfort: I suspect you have epidydimitis or a varicocele, because you mentioned the tube that runs along the back is swollen. That tube is called the epidydimus (sp?) and carries the sperm from the testicles to the body. Epidydimitis is an inflammation of this tube, usually associated with a urinary tract infection, and can have painful urination as a side effect. Although you said your urine tests came back OK, so I don't thing that's it.

The other possibility is you have a varicocele. This is a varicose vein in the scrotum. What happens is one of the main veins that returns blood from the testicle (almost always on the left testicle) has internal valve failure. This causes extra blood to back up in the vein because of gravity, and then the vein swells and gets a bit twisted. Symptoms include a dull intermittent ache in or around the testicle, groin pain, the testicle hanging substantially lower than the other one, and the ability to feel a swollen, knotted tube in the scrotum on the backside of the testicle, that feels like a bag of worms.

Fortunately, most varicoceles are harmless, although they are the #1 cause of infertility in men.

I had a large varicocele for a number of years, and I had the surgery to correct it. So if you think you have this, I can answer any questions you may have.

And just to help with one of your other concerns...
One of them is always slightly larger and hangs just a bit lower than the other. Its part of the way we are designed and helps protect the lil guys. Absolutely nothing to worry about there.

so the chances are Im ok? I feel fine when my mind is off things, when I think about it I start to feel little aches.

You need to see a doctor to be properly diagnosed. You'll drive yourself crazy wondering if its a problem or not, until you know for sure from a doctor. Believe me, I've been there.

I have been 5 times, and done the urine tests - all clear, and also he looked at my penis (fungal infection) which has 99% cleared up (unless I dont wash for days on end it goes red).

When i told him about the aches, he flt under my ribs etc etc and asked if i felt pain - i didnt. So he said I was ok.

As for testicles, I have done the checks and they are smooth - I also had my girlfriend check and she said they are both the same, all smooth, apart from the tip of the tube on one at the top of my right teste is larger than the left tube. (but that testicle is overall slightly larger - so i assume this is normal)?

Everything sounds normal. And yes, its normal to have one testicle slightly larger than the other. My right testicle is slightly larger than my left too.