Examine your testicles in the comfort of your home, it could save your life
According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa), testicular cancer is one of the common cancers in young men and it is therefore important for young men to begin testicular self-examinations soon after puberty.
POLOKWANE – With 43 800 minutes in an ordinary month, taking just 10 of them to examine your testicles might not only save your own life, but also your loved ones from heartache.
November is men’s cancer month and the focus is mostly on prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
The most prevalent cancers among men are prostate, colorectal, lung, Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) (Aids-related cancer) and bladder cancer.
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According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa), testicular cancer is one of the common cancers in young men and it is therefore important for young men to begin testicular self-examinations soon after puberty.
“Men from the age 15 to 49-years-old need to examine their testicles each month, preferably after a bath or shower, to feel for any pea-sized lumps that could indicate testicular cancer,” says Christopher Combrinck, community mobiliser at Cansa Polokwane.
The exact cause of testicular cancer is unknown.
There are, however, several risk factors linked to testicular cancer. Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled.
Others, like a person’s age or race, cannot be changed. However, having a risk factor, or even several risk factors, mean that a person will get the disease.
There is no way to prevent testicular cancer.
Risk factors include:
• Having had an Undescended testicle(s)
• Having had abnormal development of the testicles and/or other organs
• Having a personal history of testicular cancer
• Having a family history of testicular cancer
• HIV Infection
• Race
• Age
• Having fertility problems
• Occupation
• Having a family history of breast cancer or malignant melanoma
• Smoking marijuana
• Body size
• Having had a vasectomy – having had a vasectomy does not increase the risk of testicular cancer.
• Having prior trauma to the testicles
• Genetic risk factors
Any person who believes that he may be at risk for testicular cancer should discuss this with his medical practitioner.
“If detected early, testicular cancer can be treated effectively. Symptoms include a painless swelling or lump in one or both testicles, pain in or a feeling of heaviness in a testicle or an ache in the lower abdomen, back or groin.”
How to self examine your testicles:
How to do a testicular self-examination:
• Doing a testicular self-examination is easy: learn what your body normally feels and looks like, that way any changes or anything that feels strange can be detected early.
• Firstly, decide on a regular time once a month to do your self examination.
• Examine your testicles directly after a warm bath or shower.
• Stand in front of a mirror and look for any swelling.
• Support your testicles with one hand and feel each one with your other hand.
• Roll the testicles between the thumb and fingers, feeling for any lumps – it’s normal to feel a soft chord-like structure on the top and back of each testicle, lumps can be as small as a grain of rice and are usually quite firm like hard rubber. Also check for areas that feel tender.
• Consult your health practitioner if any abnormalities are detected.
For more information about testicular cancer visit Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation
