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Testicle self-examination

Testicular cancer is the most common disease among males age 15 to 35 and it has claimed the lives of millions. For this reason, doctors recommend regular testicle self-examination �" monthly, if possible �" to make sure that you don’t have any unusual lumps or bumps.

A monthly testicle self-examination will make you familiar with the normal state of your testicles and make it easy for you to note of any changes in the future.

Lumps and bumps are usually the first sign of testicular cancer. Other symptoms include pain and tenderness in either testicle, a notable increase in the size of your breasts, and the sensation of fluid or bloatedness in you scrotum.

A little blood in your sperm during ejaculation is no cause for alarm and rarely indicates testicular cancer. If you notice a sudden enlargement in one testicle, see your doctor, although bear in mind that having different-sized testicles is normal. It is usually the right testicle that is larger than the left.

Doctors recommend that men undertake a testicle self-examination following a hot bath because the heat will loosen the scrotum and make self-analysis easier. Focus on one testicle at a time. Feel for lumps and compare the size and shape of the two testicles. Larger or odd-shaped testicles may mean something so examine further by visiting a doctor. The same goes for any sudden discoloration of the testicles.

To examine your testicle, roll it in your fingers and thumb as you press gently, using both hands as you check for symptoms. Are there any swellings or lumps or changes in firmness? These may not mean anything but they are reason enough to visit a doctor.

At the top of each testicle, you will feel the epididymis, so don’t be alarmed. The epididymis is the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the penis. It’s soft, feels like rope and is tender to the touch. It may feel like a lump but it’s normal.

The size of the lump you are looking for is small, about the size of a pea or a grain of rice.

If you do find a lump, do not be alarmed. Testicular cancer is a curable disease. The main thing is that you catch it in time and get treatment early. If you do, the odds are very much in your favour as more than 90% of testicular cancer patients recover fully and that includes 100% of cases where the disease has not yet begun to spread. And even in those cases where it has spread, the chances of recovery are still at a healthy 50%

Undertake testicle self-examination the next time you take a shower. There are only two instances when you will become aware of testicular cancer: when you discover it yourself through a testicle self-examination or when it has spread throughout your body and has become a genuine health risk.