Could prostate cancer be a possible cause of pain in only one testicle, plus the groin and thigh on that same side?
Prostate cancer can cause numerous symptoms, and among them is pain in the hip, pelvic area and even the back.
Pain in the back, hip or pelvic area may not be as worrisome to some men as new-onset pain in just one testicle (“one-sided” symptoms often bring fear of cancer), and especially if accompanied by discomfort in the groin and upper leg.
“These symptoms are typical for cases of neuropathic orchalgia (chronic testicular pain) with associated pain in the inner thigh and groin,” says says Matthew Allaway, DO, a urologist who specializes in detecting prostate cancer and the developer of a prostate biopsy technique that improves cancer detection.
“This condition is the result of nerve irritation that can be caused by impingement at various levels of the nerve from the back to the inguinal region.
“The testicles are very sensitive, so pain can be caused by a number of conditions, infections or injuries.
“The nerve involved in neuropathic orchalgia is responsible for innervation (or stimulation) of the triad of those anatomic locations (testicle, groin and thigh).”
So though that’s the most likely cause of this trio of symptoms, the question still remains: Can prostate cancer ever cause pain in these areas?
“This complaint would not typically be an indication of prostate cancer,” says Dr. Allaway.
Prostate cancer, almost always, will cause several of the problems in the list below.
Note: Blood in the semen is a rare symptom of prostate cancer.
Dr. Allaway is the founder and CEO of Perineologic, a medical device company focused on the development and delivery of technology to improve the safety, precision and efficiency of healthcare options in the field of urology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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