Testicular Cancer
 

We all know that Men are more proud than Women and that we think nothing could happen to us but lets be realistic, Testicular Cancer can happen to many Men. All it takes is 15-20 seconds of checking the testicles and feeling for any lumps or abnormalities. Below is some information that may help.

Why self-examine?

Things can go wrong with your testicles slowly, quickly or very fast indeed.

A few conditions that affect the testicles are serious, but most are not so being obsessed or frightened for no good reason is undesirable.

Knowing what your testicles normally feel and look like makes good sense so that changes can be spotted and advice sought quickly if needed. Getting the balance right is the name of the ball game!
Signs to watch out for:

* a lump in one testicle
* pain and tenderness in either testicle
* discharge or pus from the penis
* blood in the sperm at ejaculation
* a build-up of fluid inside the scrotum
* a heavy or dragging feeling in the groin or scrotum
* an enlargement of the breasts with or without tenderness
* an increase in size of a testicle (one testicle is normally larger then the other but the size and shape should remain more or less the same).

How to check your testicles

Check your testicles monthly in the following manner:

* do the self-examination lying in a warm bath or while having a long shower, as this softens the skin of the scrotum (skin sac that holds the testicles), which makes it easier to feel the testicles inside.
* examine the scrotum, looking for any lumps on the skin or swellings inside.
* cradle the whole scrotum and testicles in the palm of your hand and feel the difference between the testicles. One is almost always larger and lying lower. This is completely normal.
* examine each testicle in turn, and then compare them with each other. Use both hands and gently roll each testicle between thumb and forefinger.

* Check for any lumps or swellings as both testicles should be smooth except where the duct that carries sperm to the penis, the epididymis, runs. This lies along the top and back of the testicle and normally feels bumpy.

Testicular cancer represents only 1 per cent of all cancers in men, but it is the single biggest cause of cancer-related deaths in men aged 15 to 35 years in the UK.

Currently, about 1500 men a year (around 1 in 400) develop the disease in the UK. Unfortunately, the number of UK cases has trebled in the past 25 years and is still rising.

Although testicular cancer is rare, it is not at all uncommon to find a lump in your testicles. There are many conditions that can be easily confused with testicular cancer, and most of them are not anything like as serious.

Facts

* Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in young men between the ages of 20 and 34. There are about 7500 new cases yearly, with approximately 350 deaths per year in the US.

* Testicular cancer is more common in white men than black or Asian.

* Although it accounts for only about 1 percent of all cancers in men, it is the number one cancer killer among men in their 20's and 30's.

* Most testicular cancers are self-discovered by patients as a painless or uncomfortable lump in the testicle. About 1-3% of testicular neoplasms are bilateral.

* Pure seminomas constitute roughly 40% of all testicular cancer cases. Forty percent of the testicular cancers have mixture of histology.

* The cancer risk for boys with a history of undescended testicles is about 10-40 times higher than normal individuals. The risk of developing the disease was estimated at 1 out of 20 for a testis retained in the abdomen and 1 out of 80 if it was within the inguinal canal. The risk remains elevated after surgical correction. Both testis are at higher risk, not just the undescended one.

* If found early, testicular cancer is almost always curable.

* Early stage testicular cancer can be treated with surgery and radiation therapy. Late stage testicular cancer can be treated with the combination of surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.

* The prognosis for men with testicular cancer is very good, even with late stage disease. The chances of recovery are excellent with surgery and radiotherapy for early stage disease. Combined modality is used for treatment of late stage disease with good results.

* More than 90% of testicular cancer patients are cured by their initial treatment, and many of those who have recurrent disease can also be cured with chemotherapy or radiation.

Don't make me touch myself! :sad:

As if you need an excuse :bored: but I did mean this as a serious thread..... mainly for people who have not experienced Cancer in their lives it might not ever dawn on them to check and because some men think they are unstoppable or embarrassed, it doesn't hurt to check, like it says it's 30 seconds out of your day which could one day save your life, it's not much really.

Female - But check my bits and bobs. I have history. And yes, I'd fall to bits but better than not knowing I guess

No I do agree, it's best to check. Us guys get so shy about doing this but it's not a big deal.

Exactly, what I'm trying (don't know how well I'm doing) to do is get people to check just in case, I dont think there is anything to it? Two minutes of embarrassment could save a life.

It's great advice :)

We do and it really shouldnt be, quick check, then fine if not then Doc's, most ases are treatable unless the patient leaves it too long.... earlier check = earlier diagnosis = healthier outcome.

*stops being all healthy on people, go and have a smoke/drink NOW*

I am all good.


Looking forward to Arista's reply

There was a guy in the year below me at school that had testicular cancer. He survived it but was still bullied by some chavs throughout it which I was saddened and shocked by :(

I check my balls twice a day.

Only thoght of it because of the Jade documentary and the Breast Cancer page we have, thought why not and it seems a bit taboo (still) even thought there is no reason for it to be....

Shouldn't be taboo at all. My OH had a scare years ago so I kind of know what it's like second-hand. Plus breast cancer scares and deaths in the family. It needs it's fecking ass kicking!

:)

Lets hope karma doesn't find them. Right so you have to touch your balls and feel around. Well I'm sure most of us do that every night.

So if we find something, sort it a.s.a.p. or face the not so pleasant consequences. I still never get why we are so shy about testing ourselves.

I think it's letting the doctors look that blokes don't like.

Yup, Men, (me included) should check every month, most men have a check anyway, it's such a treatable form of the big C that I think it should be taught in secondary schools....

If it saves my life I have no problem.....but I would agree with you, I dont particularly want some doctor having a look or whatever but I hope people are past the stage of "it'll sort itself out" mentality and think more like "this could save my life"...

I've never found myself shy about checking..... I dont know why though, I just always check, it could be because cancer has been in both sides of my family and has been the major killer.... but like ive said before get it found early and you have a greater chance.... just dont leave it to chance...

I think it's easier for women. We're used to having all kinds of tests and once you've had a baby - well, dignity has gone through the window.

Men don't get poked and prodded so I admire those who swallow their pride and get any worries checked out

That's a very good point actually, us men have no idea what you have to get done ( I salute all women).

Thankfully I have never needed to get any checks done and (touch wood) hopefully I wont need to, I just thought it might be good to have a thread like this.... might encourage people....

Last year I had to go as far as having all the scans and tests and I pretty much thought I had it, thankfully I didn't

The people were good there and it's a big problem that men never get themselves checked out, probably is one of the main reasons why women live wayyy longer then men.

I do it in the bath

Bump

Been there, had it, lost 1.

I'm not embarrassed of that at all - keep checking blokes - it's not terminal so long as caught quickly enough in 9 out of 10 suffer no further consequences.

Know quite a few people who have lost 1 and didnt affect them at all, which I think is brilliant... basically prolonged their life for a few moments of embarrasment.... id take that deal anyday.....

The Doctors have seen it all before anyway, they deal with these things everyday.