Patients diagnosed with testicular cancer had a 2.7-fold higher relative risk of developing depression, 2.5-fold higher risk of anxiety, and 2.5-fold higher risk of sleep disorders compared to a control population, suggesting the cancer diagnosis itself rather than the orchiectomy is likely a driver of mental health disorders.
Testicular cancer patients had significantly higher rates of newly diagnosed depression compared to controls after propensity score matching.
Testicular cancer patients had significantly higher rates of newly diagnosed anxiety disorders compared to controls.
Testicular cancer patients had significantly higher rates of newly diagnosed sleep disorders compared to controls.
The study used a large claims database with 1:1 propensity score matching to compare 2178 men undergoing radical versus simple orchiectomy.
The cancer diagnosis itself, rather than the surgical procedure (orchiectomy), is identified as the likely driver of mental health disorders in this young patient group.
This research suggests that being diagnosed with testicular cancer significantly increases the risk of developing mental health problems, even among men who receive early-stage treatment. Researchers compared over 1,000 young men (ages 15-45) who had surgery to remove a testicle for cancer against a similar group of men who had the same surgery but for a non-cancerous reason (testicular torsion). By using this comparison, they were able to separate the emotional impact of the cancer diagnosis itself from the impact of the surgery. Men with testicular cancer were 2.7 times more likely to develop depression, and 2.5 times more likely to develop anxiety or sleep disorders than men who had the same operation but no cancer diagnosis. The study found that roughly 1 in 6 testicular cancer patients developed a new anxiety disorder, about 1 in 11 developed a sleep disorder, and about 1 in 12 developed depression following their diagnosis and surgery. These rates were dramatically higher than in the surgical control group, even though both groups underwent the same procedure. Importantly, men who had more advanced disease requiring chemotherapy, radiation, or additional surgery were excluded, meaning these findings apply specifically to men with early-stage disease whose only treatment was surgery. This research suggests that the psychological burden of a cancer diagnosis in young men is substantial and cannot be explained by the physical effects of the surgery alone. Since testicular cancer most commonly affects men in their teens through their 40s — often during major life milestones — these findings highlight a need for proactive mental health screening and support as a routine part of testicular cancer care, not just attention to the physical aspects of treatment.
Wang J, Castillo J, Buell M, Shin J, Douglawi A, Hofmann M, et al.. (2026). Mental Health Burden of a Testicular Cancer Diagnosis: Insights From a Large Claims Database.. Urology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2026.02.027