When you think of testicular cancer, you’re likely to think of adult men, am I right? Sadly, in a rare occurrence, nine month old Freddie has been diagnosed with a rare form of testicular cancer.

Mummy Emma Burgess, and Freddie’s other mummy Katie, have spoken out to raise awareness in the hope that other rare cases can be picked up on and treated sooner. They told Metro that they found a lump on Freddie’s right testicle in March 2019, and immediately saw a doctor who felt that it was likely to be a hernia. Freddie was referred for a general check-up, but in June he was diagnosed with ectomesenchymoma, which is a rare and rapidly growing cancer found in soft tissue and the nervous system.

Gorgeous Freddie! Credit: BPM.

Freddie has undergone rounds of chemotherapy and had his right scrotum removed on the 1st of August. Katie has stated that Freddie is ‘still happy. But it has been heartbreaking. We try not to cry around him so he does not get upset.’

Freddie’s wonderful big sister Holly is doing a charity abseil to raise money for Billy’s House, who provides free accomodation for families of children undergoing cancer treatment.

You can sponsor her here!

What are the signs of testicular cancer in young boys?

According to The Urology Care Foundation, there are 2 peak ages where testicular tumors grow in children;

Early boyhood
Teen years

This rarely happens before puberty, though, making Freddie’s case particularly rare. The incidence of testicular tumours in prepubescent boys is 1 in 100,000, and in young boys, testicular tumours only make up 1-2%.

The symptoms:

a painless lump in the testicle (this is the most common sign)
a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
swelling of the testicle (with or without pain)
pain or a dull ache in the testicle, scrotum and/or groin

My son’s testicles don’t look/feel right – what should I do?

If you’re concerned, please seek a GP’s attention as soon as possible. You will need a referral to a urologist if these symptoms have persisted for more than two weeks. They will be able to rule out other conditions like;