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April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. It is one of the most common cancers in young men and occurs predominantly in men aged 20 – 40 years. The testicles, also known as the testes, are two organs contained in the scrotum that is primarily in charge of testosterone and sperm. Testicular cancer happens when cells in the testes grow to form a tumor. The first sign of testicular cancer is often a bump or lump on a testicle.
A testicular self-exam is the easiest and most basic way for men to detect early cancer. The best time is during or after a bath or shower when the skin of the scrotum is relaxed.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of testicular cancer include
The risk of developing testicular cancer rises in men with:
Undescended testicles
Cryptorchidism is what happens when a testicle does not drop from the abdomen before birth, as it should. When that happens, there is a higher chance for a tumor to develop.
Family history
If your father or brother have been diagnosed with testicular cancer, your chance of getting it increases
You can perform a testicular self-exam at home, healthcare providers suggest performing it monthly to regularly check on your testicles and to notice any changes as soon as possible.
Here’s how you can perform a testicular self-exam at home:
1. Perform the self-exam after a warm shower or bath as your skin will be more relaxed, making it easier to feel for anything unusual.
2. Place your index and middle fingers underneath the testicle with your thumb on top, then roll each testicle between your thumb and fingers.
3. Familiarise yourself with what is normal for your testicles and feel for any lumps. These lumps can be pea-sized or larger, and are often painless. Each testicle should also remain generally the same size.
Testicular cancer is highly treatable, with treatment methods depending on the type of testicular cancer that you have and how far it has spread. Common treatments for testicular cancer include surgery and chemotherapy.
Learn more about testicular cancer here.
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