A new study says marijuana use may raise the risk of testicular cancer in young men, especially in men who have a tumor in an advanced state.  

The report, published in the American Cancer Society's journal, notes that studies done in 2009 and 2010  have similar links.

"Marijuana seems to be associated with the worst kind of testis cancer that occurs in young men ... (it) may well be causal," study author and assistant professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine's Victoria Cortessis said in a CNN report.

Researchers asked 163 self-admitted recreational drug users, all men between the ages of 18 and 35 who had testicular cancer, questions about their family’s history of cancer and their own use of drugs.

“The findings suggest "early experimental use," which would be short-term, may trigger increased cancer risk,” Cortessis explained. She admitted the data needs to be further examined to draw firmer conclusions, but did note that men who reported long-term usage of marijuana seem not face greater risk

Nearly 8,690 new cases of testicular cancer have been estimated in the United States this year -- about 360 men will die, according to the National Cancer Institute. Testicular cancer occurs most commonly in young or middle-aged men

Testicular cancer rates in men are doubling every 20 to 30 years But the use of marijuana has also increased over the years, often in young males.