Keep your eye on the balls
Mens health has become big business and in today’s society we encounter endless attempts to encourage us to tackle our balls. Men’s health magazines, TV ads, glossy posters in GPs’ waiting rooms, information-laden beer mats, drop-in advice centres at football grounds or celeb-backed ‘awareness campaigns’ – all dictate that we become pro-active in the war against testicular cancer.
Testicular Cancer is actually pretty rare and only constitutes only 1% of all cancers, but it is the single biggest cause of cancer-related deaths in men aged 15 to 35 years in the UK. Most cases are curable and in fact more deaths in 2005 were attributable to breast cancer in men than testicular.
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.
The problem with the high profile topic of our tackle is an increased anxiety amongst men with regard to its threat and although the occurance of Testicular cancer is rare the presence of lumps in the testes is not.
We don’t want to run the risk of neurosis when it comes to our nads, so if a lump is found would suggest an appointment with the GP before panic overdrive (chances are it will amount to not a lot).
A healthy approach to physical awareness is best and knowing what your testicles normally feel and look like makes good sense so that changes can be spotted and advice sought quickly if needed.
Signs to watch out for:
·A lump in one testicle
·Pain and tenderness in either testicle
·Discharge 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 once a month
·Do the self-examination lying in a warm bath or while having a long shower, as this softens the skin of the scrotum, which makes it easier to feel the testicles inside.
·Look 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.
We would suggest getting your partner to check, they get the closest view (unless you are a disciple of Ashtanga Yoga) and will see or feel any obvious difference.
It’s a great excuse for soaping up in the tub or shower what more can we say!
